In 2018 and into the foreseeable future, certain skills are becoming universally valuable and highly paid.
Hi Steemians, I'm 
.
Around New Years this year, I wrote an article based upon what advice I would give friends and family in regards to what New Year's Resolutions they should set. We're a little ways into 2018 now, but the recommendations I give still apply, and will for years to come!
Just as reading and writing were specialized skills in history but today are widespread and necessary, the skills discussed here are specialized now, but are becoming more and more necessary in modern life – making them (and the people that know them) more and more valuable.
TLDR: To immediately increase quality and value of life, do these things:
- Choose Python, Java, or a web development language and start learning (freemium option: Codeacademy)
- Choose Chinese, German, and\or Spanish and start learning (or, practice English to sound like an anchor on MSNBC or Fox) (freemium options: Duolingo, Memrise)
- Make a simple cryptocurrency wallet and buy something (We've probably got this one covered here, but it's still what I recommend to people close to me!)
- Read “How to Win Friends and Influence People”
No.1 - Choose Python, Java, or a web development language and start learning
Coding ability is becoming as much of an everyday skill as reading and writing. Coding is a valuable and well-compensated skill that takes time and effort to learn – a barrier of entry that increases value – and is applicable across personal and business aspects of life – making it widely and uniquely rewarding.
Starting languages can be chosen based on what a learner is most interested in. Some starter languages are:
- Python – Python is widely regarded as the best beginner language, but is also used in state-of-the-art work in data science and artificial intelligence. Python is a popular and versatile language that is beginner-friendly but also used in the most advanced applications.
- Java – Java is a popular and broadly used language because of its capability and cross-compatibility across computers and devices. Its also a good choice for beginners, and is used in everything from web games to cable boxes.
- Web – HTML is used to build web pages, CSS is used to style the page, and JavaScript (note: JavaScript and Java are different) controls how things on a page act. HTML introduced with CSS is a good starting place, with the option to work JavaScript in for a full web development skill set.
Codeacademy is one of a few places to start learning computer languages for free.
No.2 - Start learning Chinese, German, and\or Spanish (or, practice English to sound like an anchor on MSNBC or Fox)
For a time, German was almost exclusively the language of science and Germany continues to be a hub of science and engineering, and China is at the forefront of supercomputing and AI research. German and Chinese are attractive languages for those wanting to stand out in science and engineering circles.
Spanish is prolific and is a good choice because of its widespread use across the planet.
American English has positioned itself as the go-to language of business, and the mechanics of English allow for extensive lingual creativity. Fluency in American English with a neutral accent is an extremely sought-after skill and is applicable worldwide.
No.3 - Make a cryptocurrency wallet and use it to buy something
(Again, we're all familiar with it here on Steemit, but to many people - including people close to us - crypto is still a very foreign concept).
Get familiar with cryptocurrency and how to use it. Coinbase is a simple and straightforward way to start poking around in crypto.
No.4 - Read “How to Win Friends and Influence People”
Dale Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and Influence People” is a business and success book written back in the early 1900’s and is considered by many to explain invaluable universal principles regarding life and negotiations. “How to Win Friends” is a timeless classic text that will benefit anyone who reads it - however - I believe many millennials can especially benefit from reading this book. Social skills are uniquely lacking in today's society, and having them is a major boon.
The world is changing so quickly it’s becoming prohibitive for a person to maximize their value in both their personal life and business career. New skills take time and effort to learn, making them valuable as a personal resource but restrictive since they take time and energy that a learner only has so much of on any given day. Paradoxically, developing new skills is becoming more and more essential as technology and politics change the world faster than at any point in history.
This has been , thank you for reading!
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