That sounds like a derogatory question, but it's not and it's relevant. And I'm speaking from a 'work' perspective. My wife and kids would say I'm a good Daddy, but nobody's going to pay me for that.
If anyone is going to give you a dollar of their money, you have to be able to adequately answer this:

"What are you good for?"
Two possible answers:
- I'm good at (insert a task here)
- I'm good at (insert a result here)
It's snowing in the Rockies as I write...we've had very, very little in my neck of the woods this year. So I'm thinking of backcountry cross country skiing, which means...off in the woods. I've done it some since living here, but often get frustrated...feels like I take two slides forward, one slide back. Or sometimes, four slides back. If that's all there is...forget it, I can snow shoe faster.
My neighbor assures me I can learn better technique and enjoy the real fruits of this athletic endeavor. Maybe this current snow will finally give us enough.
So in seeking someone to tutor me in cross country skiing, here are two relevant answers:
- Guy #1: I'm teach cross country skiing (task)
OR...
- Guy #2: I help people experience the backcountry like never before through cross country skiing. You'll never wear snow shoes again. With my help, you'll smoothly glide through the trees, briskly ascend upgrades and expertly race down the slopes. With the right technique you can cover more ground and experience so much more of the woods, revel in the joy of gliding (it's addicting!) get a far better full-body workout and enjoy skiing down slopes you'd otherwise never access!
Most of our culture, when asked "What are you good for" or the frequent What do you do" will answer like Guy #1. Most job applicants will list tasks they are able to complete like Guy #1.
And the big tragedy is most folk pursuing self-employment have the mindset of Guy #1. They look for an idea they might be able to get paid for and hang out their shingle to tell the world, "I teach cross country skiing." Well...great. So can a boat load of other people. And with my current poor experience of the sport, just saying you can teach me doesn't really increase my trust that it will really be all I'd hope for. Getting me to pony up the money you are asking for is going to be hard.
Guy #2 though...
he had me at 'hello'. In the first place, I'm not interested in cross country skiing just to fill my time with an activity. I won't win any awards for learning. I'm doing it for...
a result. So I'm all ears for someone who is passionate about it...who will inspire me.
This is common sense, but common sense is...uncommon. Do you want to go eat Italian food at a strip mall that has tables, chairs, silverware and Italian food that tastes good? Or, do you want to eat Italian food at a quaint little converted house with festive lighting emanating from the windows,Dean Martin singing "That's Amore" in the background, the Italian owner visiting your table, complimentary wine tasting and wait-staff dressed in old world Italian costumes? OH, and of course food, but in that environment, the food, while needing to be good, is very minimized.
A task or a result? Most folks go in to business to deliver the product or service. In this case, Italian food.
COME ON! We gotta wake up. People buy an experience...an image, a result! If it's just filling your belly you can eat a loaf of bread.
Which will you pay more for? Which will you recommend to others? Which will stay in business?
BACK TO YOUWant to be self-employed? Want to be successfully self-employed?
What are you good for?
Answer that correctly and we CAN, for a fact, find a viable opportunity for you.
Think you don't have anything really attractive and worthwhile that you can offer? I understand...that feeling is far too common.
But it's a lie. It may take some hard work and a bit longer to reveal and refine and build up than someone else, but it's there.
I will, and do...bet my livelihood on it.
Wanna' give it a shot? Write it here in the comments, "What are you good for?"
If I get enough submissions here...I'll put them in a form and let everyone vote on a winner and give a prize worthy of writing about.
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