Lately, I’ve been carving out time to study other speakers. Sometimes it’s a quick fifteen minutes; other times, it’s an hour. I focus on how they tell stories, what jokes land, which strategies inspire, and—most importantly—what sticks with me.
One speaker I saw this past year stood out for a surprising reason. He admitted he’s probably not the world’s best public speaker. But what makes him unique and unforgettable is the variety of skills he’s cultivated—and how he’s combined them.
He called it “skill stacking.”
He speaks about sales, marketing, and IT. But he’s also a musician, fluent in Japanese language and culture, and trained in Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and kickboxing. On paper, these seem like unrelated pursuits. Yet, together, they fuel his work, his relatability, and his ability to stand out in his field.
His message wasn’t that everyone should take up martial arts or learn a new language. It was this: when we nurture our interests and build our skills intentionally, we bring more value—both to our careers and to our lives.
This idea stuck with me. Skill stacking is a way to bring both intention and experimentation into our lives.
What could happen if you combined leadership with learning to fly a plane? Or science with culinary arts? At the very least, you’d gain new perspectives. At best, you might create something extraordinary.
So let me ask: What skills are you stacking?
As we approach the new year, it’s worth dreaming a bit. Maybe there’s a hobby you’ve been curious about or a niche expertise you’ve been meaning to explore. By weaving your passions into your work—or just making time to cultivate them—you might find value (and a little joy) and value in unexpected places.
Two of the things that are on my list for 2025 are water color painting and improv (might take a class).
Here’s to stacking your way into something remarkable.
P.S. If you are curious the public speaker I mentioned above, his name is Steve Acho. Be sure to check him out!
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