In Stage Eight, you found your purpose, or at least a good idea of what your purpose might be. Now it is time to gather the skills and knowledge you will need to forward your purpose. What skills and knowledge will you need to make the best possible effort towards your purpose? Do you need to learn specific software tools and apps? Do you need another language? Do you need physical skills or abilities? Do you simply need more knowledge about certain subjects?
Write it all down. Even if these skills sound impossible, write them down anyway. Many things are easier than you think. And you are definitely smarter than you think. For extra inspiration, add in skills and knowledge you will need for anything on your list of things you have always wanted to try, do or experience. It is no coincidence that these things are related to your purpose.
As you list these skills and knowledge, there will be, guaranteed, a voice inside your head that tells you this is crazy, or you aren’t smart enough or it will never work, etc. As humans, we all have this negative voice that works to pull us towards mediocrity. Any effort to forward yourself will be met with this negative voice. And the greater the effort, the louder the negative voice. Everyone you ever admired had it too. Everyone who ever did anything great had it. The key is to tell it to shut up. Quite simply, make it clear that you are not going to listen. The more you dismiss it, and the more you feed your desire to carry out your purpose, the weaker it gets. Move forward anyway.
Now, make a plan to get those skills and that knowledge. For large or intimidating skills and learning, break it down into small parts that you can do each day. If you are learning a language, start with one word per day. If you need to read a big stack of books, start with one page or one chapter per day. Learning a new app or software tool? Start with one tutorial video per day. Starting with small efforts gives you momentum and progress that will build naturally. You will quickly have the skills and knowledge you need.
