What happens if you don’t improve your “soft skills”

Reader,

Yesterday, we talked about the often-hidden role that "soft skills" play in our lives. Today, I want to talk about the other side of the equation: what happens when things go wrong.

For that we’re going to have to take a trip into the past.

Back in 2004, I was a frustrated college student. I'd just learned about investing and money. Despite this, I took my first scholarship check, invested it in the stock market, and lost half my money (College students: DO NOT DO THIS). 

That’s when I realized that if I didn’t learn how money actually worked, I’d end up the same as everyone else around me.

I spent a few years reading every book on finances I could find. I developed my own philosophy on money. I wanted to share it with my friends and show them how they could live a Rich Life, too. So I organized a free class on personal finance and offered it to anyone who wanted to learn.

At first, the response was positive.

“Wow! I want to learn about money.”

“I want to live a Rich Life!”

“I can’t wait to attend your class.”

Then the big day came and … nobody showed up. 

I spent a YEAR AND A HALF trying to convince people to come to a FREE class. I invested time and energy into crafting a detailed lesson on personal finance for … nothing.

Who’s to blame in this situation?

I’ll tell you: ME.

I didn’t realize the psychology behind what I was trying to do. I was so sure they were coming because they told me they were, that I didn’t realize that they were just being supportive in the moment because I was their friend. 

And I ended up ignoring a simple truth: People hate going to events about money because it makes them feel bad about themselves. 

(Soft skills. Hard cost … and a bruised ego. Ouch.)

That’s when I decided to try something new: I started a blog that allowed people to learn about money from the comforts of their rooms. The rest is history. 

I’m sharing this story to show you that getting ahead isn’t just about going through the motions. It’s not even about becoming a “better” writer, designer, or programmer.

The pivotal moments in your career — where a promotion or life-changing project either goes to you or somebody else — come down to your soft skills.

People who master the art of communicating, following through, being likable and interesting — THOSE are the people who get ahead.

When you ignore the soft skills, life becomes a steady stream of opportunities that whoosh by you, day after day:

• I’ve interviewed people with EXCELLENT technical skills, but because they couldn’t stop rambling, I said “thanks for your time” and didn’t hire them. Rambling is one of the pernicious social-skill breakdowns you can have because over time, people stop wanting to hear anything you have to say. (And since they’re too polite to point it out, you’ll just keep on “mysteriously” failing.)

• People who don’t build relationships at work constantly get overlooked. Sometimes for a promotion, sometimes just for happy hour. No one bothers to include them. Think of all the important conversations and good times they miss out on. Friends they’ll never make. Opportunities they didn’t know existed.

• I lost out on thousands of dollars in scholarships because I didn’t smile in interviews. It took 6 months to find out why. Imagine being in the dark that whole time. Getting pumped up, hearing “no” after “no,” and not knowing why. It’s a living hell.

Meanwhile, other people swoop in and snatch these opportunities right out from under you.

I refuse to let this happen to you.

That’s why I created the Top Performer Package. A special bundle of 3 “hidden gem” IWT courses we almost never talk about.

If you’ve ever wondered how ordinary people accomplish 10x as much (in the same 24 hours you get), you’re about to find out.

Here’s a tiny taste of what’s inside…

• How to uncover the game being played around you in any field … and systematically dominate it
• The #1 investment you can make (HINT: Top Performers invest in this like crazy and it's never too late to start)
• How to set up meetings with "higher-status" people so they clear their schedule to talk to you
• The right way to leverage accountability so you achieve your goals in half the time … even when you're feeling lazy or unmotivated (most people get this all wrong)
• How I built mental toughness and the ability to say "no" without feeling guilty

There’s a ton more of our very best “inner game” material inside. And I’d never offered these courses in one package until this course.

Click here to get instant access to the Top Performer Package.