The Entrepreneurial Savant

Back-up skills used to be called hobbies back before we all ran out of time. Now a back-up skill may be something we’ve always dreamed of pursuing but didn’t have the time or something we picked up along the way that we’ve always gone back to when we need to rejuvenate ourselves.
I have an attorney friend who loves his law practice but has a back-up skill that might surprise some of his corporate clients. He writes and records children’s music and is on the verge of making himself a household word with the 3-8 year-old crowd. His legal work has made it financially possible for him to pursue his recording projects without the struggle that so often hampers musicians. Another friend has an African coin collection that has turned into a profitable Internet business as he and other aficionados trade and barter these obscure coins. It may turn into a full time business after he retires.
As a writer, the value of secondary skills is obvious. I picked up woodworking skills from my brother, a professional woodworker and went on to write a marketing book for woodworkers. Years ago the hours I spent painting houses while struggling to sell my writing not only taught me a skill (and painting is an honorable and ancient profession) that paid the bills but they gave me valuable time to think and showed me the value of careful, methodical and meticulous work.
We all have skills we’ve picked up over time. Don’t discount the value of those ‘secondary’ skills; they may lead you into something totally unexpected.

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