Beyond the 9-to-5: Why Developing Your 'One Skill' is Non-Negotiable Today
TL;DR: Forget the outdated image of success tied to a single, lifelong job. The world of work has changed, and job security isn't guaranteed. Developing at least one core, marketable skill ("一技之長") is crucial. Don't wait until you quit your job to learn; start now. Invest wisely in quality learning (paid resources often trump free ones), build relevant networks beyond your comfort zone, and dedicate consistent time to mastering your craft. Use your current job as a launchpad to build skills, capital, and connections. True career freedom comes from self-awareness and proactive skill development, not just having free time.
What does globally successful talent look like in your mind? Maybe it's the classic image: an MBA from a top overseas university, fluent English, a high-flying job at a Fortune 100 company? For generations, that was the perceived path.
But let's be honest, the ground has shifted beneath our feet, especially post-COVID. The nature of work is undergoing massive changes, both in quality and quantity. Relying solely on diligently "showing up to work" ("返工") no longer guarantees stability or long-term security. In this new landscape, having at least one valuable, marketable skill – your "一技之長" – is the fundamental prerequisite for providing value and earning your keep. Even if you don't aim to become a 'Slash' worker juggling multiple careers, developing that core competency is essential.
Earlier this year, I was chatting with some aspiring entrepreneurs. I asked them simple questions: "What are your interests?" "What are your strengths?"
Most struggled to answer. One memorable, if slightly alarming, response was: "Actually, I don't really know anything specific..." (My first thought was, perhaps you should write a thank-you note to your boss for employing you!). This highlights a common gap: a lack of clarity about one's own valuable skills.
The Time to Learn is Now: Developing Multiple Skills (多技之長)
Here’s a crucial piece of advice I share often: Things you don't do before quitting your job, you likely won't do after quitting either. Don't fall into the trap of thinking, "I'll learn that new skill after I leave my current role." No matter how busy your job is, you can carve out time to learn if you prioritize it.
The best time to start building your 'Slash' capabilities or diversifying your skillset is while you still have the safety net of regular income. Like any entrepreneurial venture, developing new skills requires exploration and iteration. Here’s how you can approach it proactively:
1. Invest Your Money Wisely (使錢)
While you have disposable income, learn to spend it effectively on your growth. Free resources often cost you dearly in time wasted on low-quality or introductory-level material. Yes, the internet offers endless free articles, courses, and forums, but they rarely take you deep. To truly advance, invest in your learning:
- Buy professional books.
- Pay for expert training or coaching.
- Enroll in high-quality courses (think platforms like Coursera, EdX, or even specialized programs from institutions like MIT or LSE, as mentioned in the original piece, to broaden horizons).
- Visit professional venues or workshops to experience best practices firsthand. You're essentially buying condensed expertise, proven methods, and valuable perspectives that others spent years accumulating.
2. Build Your Network (人脈)
Resources, connections, and platforms are crucial for collaboration and opportunity. Actively seek out and join communities related to the skills you're developing. Step outside your usual circle ("圍爐取暖" - staying in your echo chamber). Invest time in building genuine connections; you might be surprised by the opportunities that arise.
3. Invest Your Time (時間)
Mastery takes time. You've probably heard of the 10,000-hour rule – while the exact number is debatable, the principle holds: expertise requires significant, focused effort. How much time are you really dedicating?
Long-term employment can breed complacency. We get used to seeking security, our responsiveness can slow, and self-discipline ("自主性/自我約束力") might wane as we rely on external direction. If you can't manage a project autonomously from start to finish, you risk becoming just a cog in the machine ("一粒螺絲"). Fight that inertia.
Your Job: A Launchpad, Not a Life Sentence
View your current employment strategically. It's not just a source of income; it's a platform to accumulate capital, contacts, resources, and practical skills. Many people default to passively consuming content – binge-watching shows, scrolling Facebook, playing mobile games – simply because they haven't figured out what else they could be doing for themselves.
If you want to break out of your current constraints, start with self-reflection. Ask yourself the fundamental questions:
- "Who am I?" (What are my values, strengths, interests?)
- "What do I want to do?" (What kind of impact or work excites me?)
- "How should I do it?" (What skills, resources, and steps are needed?)
(And on a practical note, if global mobility or emigration is part of your plan, developing fluent English is almost certainly a necessity.)
Remember, having free time doesn't automatically equate to freedom. And being busy at work doesn't mean you lack freedom. True freedom comes when you understand yourself and proactively build the skills and capabilities to shape your own future, regardless of your circumstances.
成為Slash一族要在辭職前
零工／炒散／Slash：你有冇一技之長？
通行世界的人才，你腦中會浮現什麼樣的關鍵字？海外名校 MBA 畢業，英文流利像母語，在Fortune 100上班，當空中飛人是家常便飯？COVID 後工作型態開始產生質變與量變，努力「返工」對於生活穩定的保證不再。一技之長是提供個人價值並獲得回報的前提，即使做不到Slash一樣擁有多重職業和身分，也該思考如何擁有最少一技之長。
年初時我和準創業者們談論「一技」： 「你興趣喺咩？」 「你有咩長處？」 大部份都没有答案，比較有趣的答案：「我乜都唔識喎？」（你應該寫封感謝信俾老闆，感謝老闆請了乜都唔識的你！）
其之七 ：多技之長
首先記住：辭職前不會做的事，辭職後大多也不會做。不要想說等辭職後，再去學新技能。其實不管工作有多忙，學一項技能的時間一定是可以排出來的。在有收入／工作保障的時候，就應該開始Slash。Slash和其它創業一樣，需要反復摸索。辭職以前，可以用以下方法去學習。
使錢 趁有錢可使的時候，學會怎使錢。免費的東西是最貴，它用很差的質量佔用了你的時間。網上固然有看不完的免費資料、公開課、論壇討論，但基本上停留在入門級，想要深入下去，不妨花一點錢，去買專業書籍，請專業人士培訓，去專業的店鋪體驗，花錢買別人長期累積的專業和視野，買別人已經實驗論證過的正確方法。（例: 參加MIT/ LSE 的課程去增長見聞。）
人脈 資源、人脈、平台越多，才越容易實現合作。去認識與技能相關的群體，加入他們，花點時間，或許會有意想不到的收穫。圍爐取暖在自己的圈子，是永遠跳不出去。
時間 養成一個習慣，形成一個專家級別需要一萬小時，你為此投入了多少時間？上班久了，習慣尋求安全感，反應速度慢，自主性/自我約束力差，靠別人俾指示才會動。不能自主由頭到尾做一個完整的項目，就永遠只能做一粒螺絲。
返工是為自己累積資金、人脈、資源和技術。大多數人把時間拿去看劇集、Facebook或玩手機遊戲，因為他們並不知道如果不這樣做，還能為自己做什麼。如果想擺脫現有困境，就要先去找到自己，想明白「我是誰」「我想做什麼」「我該怎麼做」的問題。
如果打算移民, 流利英語是必要的。
有時間不代表有自由，工作很忙也不代表沒有自由，無論什麼時候，找到自己，才會自由。
Invest in yourself. Your skills are your most valuable asset in this changing world. Stay curious and keep learning,
