The wealth of Competence

In the last post, we saw how your character can be a deciding factor as to so many things in your life

The second form of wealth in order of priority is Competence.

Competence is the ability to do something successfully or efficiently. It is the quality or state of having sufficient knowledge, judgment, skill, or strength for a particular duty or in a particular respect.

Your competence defines your capability to apply or use a set of related knowledge, skills, and abilities required to successfully perform critical work functions or tasks in a defined work setting.

The force of competence:

Your competence level is a determinant of many important variables in the equation of your success. Some of such are;

1. Network:

It is commonplace to see people of the same level of proficiency in the same click. As we would always say, birds of the same feathers flock together. This explains why it is difficult for you to establish and sustain certain kinds or levels of contacts. Your competence level, amongst many other variables, is a decider as to who allows you within their space. This also should guide our choice of friends and partners. In the same way, you get married because you want to have children tomorrow, you should make intentional friends because you hope to be great tomorrow. A friend doesn't just tell who you are, it reveals what and who you will become.

Build your network, with where you're going in view, not where you are at the moment.

2. Value.

Competence does not just announce you to your world, it places a price tag on whatever it is you bring to the table. The value of a product or service is largely influenced by the inherent capability of that product or service which the purchaser stands to enjoy. Your marketing skills may be good at describing what you sell, in a bid to convince your buyers to patronize you, but beyond that, the valid question at the back of their mind is "what can this product or service, do for me?".

Your competence is your value gauge, which eventually sets your price range. 

Never go around asking for more when you cannot deliver more. Your perceived value sets the asking price, while your actual value, amongst other key factors, decides the ceiling figure.

3. Preferences.

Competence has a compelling force that streamlines and re-order what you can and should accept. Not all variables are admissible at various competence levels. This is very true. 

As they would always say, dress the way you would like to be addressed. This goes to say that your dress determines how you are addressed. So also, your competence level determines the kind of treatment people dish out to you. 

There is a level or kind of professionalism you will exude and it automatically decides the possibilities, both negative and positive, that are open to you.

Competence eliminates a lot of work and talks on your part. You don't need to go around telling people how to treat you, just be competent.

What do I stand to gain from being competent?

A major advantage of competence is that it gives you a competitive advantage in that area of competence. A surgeon and a military General both save lives, but while one is relevant and thus preferred in the theatre, because of the task at hand. However, during war, the reverse has to be the case if lives are to be saved. A mechanic may not be as educated as an academic professor, but he sure knows his way around, in the event of a car malfunction.

This goes to say that the more you build your competence, the more your competence carves out a niche, exclusively reserved for you.

Not everybody is easily replaceable at every level of competence.

Secondly, your competence level broadens your possibilities. First school leaving certificate, Secondary school certificate, first degree, second degree, professional certifications, etc are all forms and levels of academic degrees, but they don't all open the same doors. 

The more you become competent, the more your price tag adjusts positively and your demand gets heightened in professional fields of engagements.

A general surgeon is an asset to any hospital, but he may not be needed for brain surgery.

Thirdly, competence is a success magnet. In the words of Willa A. Foster, “Quality is never an accident; it is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, intelligent direction, and skillful execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives". Performing with a high level of excellence is always a choice, an act of the will. 

When you are competent, you are expected to deliver results consistent with your field or area of expertise. 

The world is a very busy space and it takes the bait of results to engage and sustain the attention of people. However, this success is mostly attainable, when you are competent.

In closing...

The wealth of competence is a very powerful weapon we need in our arsenal if truly we are serious about having sustainable wealth. It cannot and should not be trivialized.

Work on your character and build your competence, then you are ready to step into the third dimension of wealth.

What is this third level of wealth? I'm sure you're asking this question already and maybe you're not sure if it's cash or something else. Nothing to worry about, I'll reveal it in my next post.

Until then, get to work on your character and competence. 

Grace and Mercy!!!

Amb. Emmanuel Etukudo

Kingdom Wealth Ambassador