Career Advice

Last night I met a script supervisor. She works with directors to make sure a movie has the right continuity, and one scene fits the next. It’s a fascinating job, hobnobbing with top directors, writers, and celebrities. No two assignments are the same. How do you get that kind of career? She earned a degree in anthropology and just “fell into it” through a series of events.

I know the feeling. I majored in economics, got an MBA, worked at a bank, then a phone company, and became a cartoonist.

For every person who studies something specific, such as the law or medicine, and actually ended up in that sort of career, I think there are five who let chance pick their careers. That works out more often than you’d think, but you can’t recommend it as a career strategy. Instead, I recommend a general formula for success. Allow me to explain.

If you want an average successful life, it doesn’t take much planning. Just stay out of trouble, go to school, and apply for jobs you might like. But if you want something extraordinary, you have two paths:

1. Become the best at one specific thing.
2. Become very good (top 25%) at two or more things.

The first strategy is difficult to the point of near impossibility. Few people will ever play in the NBA or make a platinum album. I don’t recommend anyone even try.

The second strategy is fairly easy. Everyone has at least a few areas in which they could be in the top 25% with some effort. In my case, I can draw better than most people, but I’m hardly an artist. And I’m not any funnier than the average standup comedian who never makes it big, but I’m funnier than most people. The magic is that few people can draw well and write jokes. It’s the combination of the two that makes what I do so rare. And when you add in my business background, suddenly I had a topic that few cartoonists could hope to understand without living it.

I always advise young people to become good public speakers (top 25%). Anyone can do it with practice. If you add that talent to any other, suddenly you’re the boss of the people who have only one skill. Or get a degree in business on top of your engineering degree, law degree, medical degree, science degree, or whatever. Suddenly you’re in charge, or maybe you’re starting your own company using your combined knowledge.

Capitalism rewards things that are both rare and valuable. You make yourself rare by combining two or more “pretty goods” until no one else has your mix. I didn’t spend much time with the script supervisor, but it was obvious that her verbal/writing skills were in the top tier as well as her people skills. I’m guessing she also has a high attention to detail, and perhaps a few other skills in the mix. Probably none of those skills are best in the world, but together they make a strong package. Apparently she’s been in high demand for decades.

At least one of the skills in your mixture should involve communication, either written or verbal. And it could be as simple as learning how to sell more effectively than 75% of the world. That’s one. Now add to that whatever your passion is, and you have two, because that’s the thing you’ll easily put enough energy into to reach the top 25%.  If you have an aptitude for a third skill, perhaps business or public speaking, develop that too.

It sounds like generic advice, but you’d be hard pressed to find any successful person who didn’t have about three skills in the top 25%.

What are your three?

Comments

[Audra]

I think that this is very helpful advice to keep in mind. As a college student, I continually feel the pressure to narrow my focus, so I can graduate and find a career. It is much easier to narrow my focus to developing a couple of skill sets or areas of interest instead of focusing on one career track.

[Audra]

I think that this is very helpful advice to keep in mind. As a college student, I continually feel the pressure to narrow my focus, so I can graduate and find a career. It is much easier to narrow my focus to developing a couple of skill sets or areas of interest instead of focusing on one career track.

[Francois]

Hey these are such the nice advices and also some more opportunities are waiting. Some of the good opportunities are waiting for you at http://www.career-descriptions.co.uk

[Make children Successful]

Fabulous information. I would never allow other people to waste my time sitting at my desk talking to me when they have nothing better to do or by making me attend meaningless meetings. I will always try to keep learning and will constantly look for opportunities to improve my skills. I got so many ideas from your blog, similarly from Make children Successful tool.

[ibrahim]

hello.
i have university degree in management of information system and also Microsoft and Cisco certified. so my real career is in computer networks. i realize that i have the imagination to become a graphic design.i sometimes regret my study and wish i could change the past.i don't know if i should try to attend courses in graphic designs or stick in my major. though in designs i won't have the time to achive a university degree in it.
i dunno what to do.

[Advisor for top online universities]

One issue is the fact that alot of students need to work and go to school (I provide info on the top online universities and how to get in on my blog) - http://onlineuniversitiesreport.wordpress.com. Flexible schooling is an option and people need to be informed about how to find flexible and affordable training and education

[küresel ısınmaya hayır]

these are really valuable advices for young people, I hope they have a chance to read these.. I would definitely have taken them in account if I was younger.

[BitterQ]

I agree with HominidX's August 1 post... I've got a number of skills backed with experience, degrees and certification, but I've found that the programming skill often trumps the others when it comes to breaking the mold. It's all to often a reality that as soon as people learn that programming is among your capabilities that they box you into the stereotype.

Even so, this article is a great perspective on how to approach that problem - I'll give it a shot.

[Helen]

To continually grow and boost your work performance, I cannot emphasis enough the benefits of updating your skills and qualifications.This can be achieved through distance education courses such as those provided by Thomson Education http://thomson.edu.au/ who provide a wide range of courses from Accounting & Finance, Business & Marketing to even Professional Development.

[Ernie Zelinski]

I believe that quotations can offer us a lot in the way of career advice.

Here are some career quotes that come from my E-book "1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace".

The difference between a job and a career is the difference between forty and sixty hours a week.
— Robert Frost

Find a calling you love and you will never work a day in your life.
— Confucius

Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas.
— Paula Poundstone

A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself.
— Abraham Maslow

Never get married while you're going to college; it's hard to get a start if a prospective employer finds you've already made one mistake.
— Kin Hubbard

If you don't like your job you don't strike. You just go in every day and do it really half-assed. That's the American way.
— Homer Simpson

Note: You can find the Free E-book "1001 Best Things Ever Said about Work (and the Workplace)" at www.thejoyofnotworking.com

Ernie Zelinski

Author of "The Joy of Not Working"

[Jobs Career in Abroad]

Nice informative article. thanks for sharing and keep sharing such kind of articles, as these articles really helpful for experienced and new comers.
http://www.jobs-career-listing.com

[One]

You know, I would've really benefitted from this advice ten years ago. Then again my perception of what I'm actually good at is propably much sharper now.

things I'm good at...
1) Saying things that help. For some reason when I'm alone with someone they quite regurarly start talking about their problems, and a lot of people tell me afterwards that what I said really helped, and even that I've really changed their lives. It's really weird since I feel so screwed up myself, but I guess it takes one to know one. I've considered studying to become a therapist. It's just I really hate studying.

2) Making stuff up = creative fiction. Top 10% easy, maybe even top 1%. Unfortunately my attention span is too short for anything but roleplaying, which has no money in it.

3) I can tell good from bad, even in things I don't know much anything about.

4) I listen to a LOT of music.

[Jupiter]

I'm a bloody good writer (I'm going to be arrogant and say I could be in the top 10%)
Below average biologist (probably the bottom 40%)
I have an excellent imagination...
...and the people skills of a dead frog, so where on earth does my future lay?

[Tummy Roller]

I can roll the fat on my tummy to look like a dance.

[Questioning]

Hello,

I am in the situation that I will soon be resigning from my position. I know that upon resignation I should :

Be sure to get a fair settlement for any outstanding salary, vacation (and sick and personal) days, and commission payments or other compensation due to you.

Though, I am highly concerned about the company's viability. They have had problems paying their bills, and I just found out that they have not been paying out the employee's share of the 401K contributions. (Yes, err, that's against federal labor laws). I would say they owe me to date easily 4K in unreimbursed travel expenses and 401K contributions. I want to finish out my 2 weeks after the notice of resignation, but I am concerned about appropriate compensation. I have some deliverables due before my 2 weeks are over, could I use those as a bargaining chip to ensure I get my money? On the other hand I am concerned they might do a funky lock down on my 401k contributions

[Fresher]

I control the elements of fire and water and I can talk to animals...SNAP!

[Stevo]

David: Pitching DB admin services?

Guru: Theme park stunt person?

Sohbet: Accountancy cartoonist - why should engineers get all the laughs? :)

Rick Bruce: Filksinger, performer, original material artist.

Vishala: Translation of diagram-heavy mathematical textbooks. Or archeology.

Jim: Create surgical tools, orthopedics, designs for more efficient operating theatres, biomechanics etc. Alternatively, create a website of medical illustrations and sell them in book or CD form.

Abhijit: Bring conceptual laboratory work to the world or to the Board. Tell them what it's going to help them achieve.

Monkey: Translate manuals for extremely expensive vertical-market applications, or work on automatic language translation programs, or be an international speaker/teacher in computer concepts.

[Isabelle Dolce]

I have a young female colleague who frequently solicits my advice from sex to career success. I try but I think that sometimes my honesty might be too brutal for somebody young, naive, and fearful.

Yes, fearful. And the two things she fears most are failure and rejection. All of us fear failure and rejection but it oozes from her pores. She is like a squirrel running willy-nilly through incoming traffic, paniced, looking neither left nor right, unable to comprehend that there is an SUV with a car full of screaming children and a frantic suburban mom doing 47 miles an hour through a residential neighborhood.

She wants to know my 'secret' to success. What to say? Hard work? Perserverence? Strategy? Luck?

It is more than that. It is the gift of being able to make your future partners believe that they will personally and professionally benefit from cooperating. And no, I am not recommending bribery or 'you-kill-my-enemy-I'll-kill-your-enemy' mentality of politicians.

No. Success is far subtler and simpler. It is the ability to appeal to your potential adversaries vanity, greed or laziness. If you can appeal to all three, you are guaranteed success; only two, your odds are still high; one or zero and you're pushing boulders uphill.

Simple. Really.

[Monkey]

Top 25% among others doing the same thing for a living or the general populace?

[Mike]

I am good at programming (C, Matlab, bunch of others )and anything science. I have a Bachelor and Masters in Engineering.
Also pretty good at picking up languages, I speak 5 with various degrees of fluency.
So I hope to combine the two somehow, get really rich, and start my own space business. Kind of like Elon Musk.
Only I'm barely now learning web programming and I don't see a Paypal-like idea anywhere.

[Dave]

I wouldn't ignore your first option quite so quickly.
While it IS difficult to become the best at something that millions of people try -- like your examples, It is not that hard to become the best at a specific niche.

As an example, often location can create a niche for you in an otherwise popular field:
-The best NY style pizza place in Denver.
-The best scuba expert in a desert town.
-The best winter clothing retailer in Southern Florida.
-The best ice cream truck driver in Edmonton.

I'm really good at what I do. I'd estimate top 5% of the people who do it, which makes it easily the top .01% of the general population. Add to that the fact that I work in a very specfic niche, which means when jobs come up in my town, I normally get them. Or at the very least, I'm buddies with the guy who does get it... he lives down the street from me, and we've been competing for the same jobs for years, sometimes even working together on jobs. We're both successful enough that even if a 3rd guy came into town, there is room for us all.

Your concept is similar, but where you tell people to create a niche by mixing talents, I suggest it isn't that much harder to just find a pre-existing niche, and fill it.

[Abhijit]

Hmm...

Makes me wonder what skills Dilbert would need to become successful, hit the big-time.

Furthermore, what would you say are the 25% skills of Dilbert's pointy-haired boss?

:)

[Jim]

Teaching: I can teach anything that I understand, to anyone who wants to learn. I'm in the top 10% here.

Conceptual thinking: I can see the "big picture" more clearly than most. Top 25% for sure.

Public speaking: I'm quite good, entertaining and informative, engaging. Top 25%

But I'm an introvert *grin*, and must have passion and belief in the knowledge that I'm disseminating. Oddly enough, this hasn't served me well as a university professor at all. "Publish or Perish" has little to nothing to do with the creation or dissemination of intellectual creations (at least not in the IS field).

So what should I be?

[Sarvesh]

-Planning and Organizing
-Drawing
-Medical (currently in 2nd university year)
-Web Designing

I wonder...If I will really be a doctor with designing skills. How is that supposed to help me?

[D.D]

To became a cartoonist is always my dream,but I just don't know how to move on to it,for I studied language as my major in university. Thanks for your article,it helps. :)

[Denise]

Good writer Erica,

As a good writer, you should know that you are one right out of the CHUTE, not the SHOOT. Or perhaps you're a typical child of the 90's and have overestimated your abilities.

[Michel]

Oh, I thought the affirmations were enough...

[dssdf]

testing

[dssdf]

testing

[That kid]

Succinct
vision thing
observant

When a man tells me who they are I believe him.

[Vishala S.]

You made it on to Lifehacker today!

http://lifehacker.com/software/career/career-advice-from-dilberts-scott-adams-284565.php

[Emil Hunefalk]

Great post!

My skills - as a mensa member I guess one has something to do with IQ, so I'll say logic/math for the first, spiced with some programming and reasoning. For the second I'd say languages, with fluent swedish, english, danish and pretty good german, norwegian and spanish I'd say it's a skill... The third is a bit more difficult, but maybe should say creativity with paintings, graphical design both 2D and 3D, and constantly coming up with new ideas for new business, websites and interesting things to study (or new skills to develop..)

So where do I go from here? :-)

/E

[HominidX]

I live my life as I want to live it, 100%!!! Here are five (5) things that I think contribute to my happiness at the moment:

1) I do what I want.
2) I've got an attractive body and haircut.
3) I understand psychology on different levels.
4) I am tender.
5) I am only emotionally attached to myself.

Bold, handsome, confident, and good-looking are the words that immediately come to my mind when I try to describe my personality. On second thought, other words that come up are gorgeous, sexy, and brave. You might think I am being unrealistic, but there are no real negatives that occur in my mind immediately. If you want me to say something negative about my personality, I'll have to think very, very much (which is positive).

[rick bruce]

"Programming", while being cited here repeatedly as an asset; actually is far from one.

[Cole Matson]

1) Empathy/people skills/good listener
2) Written & verbal communication
3) Love of reading and watching TV & movies
4) Understanding of Christian theology and love of mythopoeia
5) Very good at organization and customer service/diplomacy
6) Good singer

I have a B.F.A. in Theater and Psychology from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, and went directly into a doctoral program in clinical psychology (Psy.D.) at a small Jesuit college. I left after one semester because, while I loved working with clients, the curriculum and practica spent way too much time on psychological testing (e.g. cognitive tests for ADHD) rather than doing therapy for my taste. I'm now acting and working as the administrator for my city's theater alliance. I know I want to go back to school, but I don't know what I want to study.

Maybe I'll be a performer for a while, then get a Masters in Theology and a Doctorate in Pastoral Counseling. Or maybe go to NYU's Gallatin School for Individualized Study and get a Master's in Christian Mythopoeia (http://www.mythsoc.org) - not that NYU, that bastion of post-post-modernism and rampant atheism/agnosticism would be the place to do it, but I don't know of anyplace else that has such an individualized program.

Maybe I should just write a book. That's easy, right?

[sohbet]

It's not that the ad is more important or anything but constantly moving colourful graphics with 3D effects tug at your attention more effectively than black text on white background. We're just wired that way.

[grimm]

drawing
highly analytical
good sense of humour

where am i ???

[adora]

Great advice! It's obvious, but I never thought of planning it. A friend of mine was unhappily working at video rental store after graduated from film school. He got a law degree and became a lawyer for a major film studio.

My top 25% skills are:
1) Tetris
2) Drawing
3) Math & Logic - got 780 & 740 on my GRE.
4) Fluent in 4 Chinese dialects.
I'm an average architect. I'm looking into studying psychology. Wonder how that mix will turn out.

[Guru]

My advice is that you keep it simple and profitable. A career has to offer you lifestyle and cashflow.
If you wish to pursue a very lucrative part time career in any of the following roles:

a) the order processing & despatch clerk

b) purchases/receivables clerk -
c) project manager -
d) sales assistant/sales person -
e) accountant/ financial controller -

Then a set of Microsoft Dynamics Nav skills is must have..
For more information visit www.myspace4erp.com

[Guru]

My advice is that you keep it simple and profitable. A career has to offer you lifestyle and cashflow.
If you wish to pursue a very lucrative part time career in any of the following roles:

a) the order processing & despatch clerk

b) purchases/receivables clerk -
c) project manager -
d) sales assistant/sales person -
e) accountant/ financial controller -

Then a set of Microsoft Dynamics Nav skills is must have..
For more information visit www.myspace4erp.com

[Guru]

My advice is that you keep it simple and profitable. A career has to offer you lifestyle and cashflow.
If you wish to pursue a very lucrative part time career in any of the following roles:

a) the order processing & despatch clerk

b) purchases/receivables clerk -
c) project manager -
d) sales assistant/sales person -
e) accountant/ financial controller -

Then a set of Microsoft Dynamics Nav skills is must have..
For more information visit www.myspace4erp.com

[tareh]

im not to sure how to combine these 3 traits
- im a divemaster, been diving for the last 10 years
- i play the bass, im in a band and rather good at it
- also i race bikes, won a few races. here & there..

*sigh*

[Erica Friedman]

I'm a better than average writer, right out of the shoot. With editing, I'm a very good writer.

I'm a better than average public speaker, and funny in much the same way that you are - I just say what I think and people translate it into humor, because otherwise they may have to think about it.

And I became the subject expert on an extremely teeny niche subject that overlaps with two other not-quite-as-teeny niche areas.

Between the three, I've gotten both speaking engagements (not as many as I'd like, though) and writing assisgnments (ditto.) It's a process. I'm ultimately angling for an honorary Ph.D. from a prestigious university that would never have accepted me as an actual student, like Oxford. :-)

Cheers,

Erica

[vinay]

These are mine!!!!!!

1) I am a computer graduate.
2) I work on computer's for hrs together.
3) Its necessity for me to learn more of Computer's to survive.

Has computers replaced my 3 basic needs air,food and shelter !!!!!

[femmebot]

(1) good listener, ability to make other people feel good about themselves
(2) good writer
(3) knack for languages and music (and I have perfect pitch)
(4) interested in politics, science and religion

Somebody tell me why I went and got an MA in Computer Science... Now I have my pick of well-paid jobs I don't want.

[Josh Ziemann]

1. The ability to perform in front of others (music, poetry, juggling)
2. The ability to express myself via language
3. The ability to understand, accept, and adapt to the ideas of others.
4. The uncanny ability to find money on the ground.

[Steve]

My three

1. Finance/Accounting
2. Technology/Programming
3. Systems/Policy

...which is combining into a specialty of "turnaround work" -- every job I've ever had since college has been me going in to a new department, or a horrifically mismanaged one, and streamlining everything.

Well, that, and I've been lucky enough to have reported to good people who provided good management backing (yes, it can exist!) for my initiatives.

I really should look into finding out if there's somewhere I can do this where I'm not "bouncing" around quite so much...

[Dalebert]

I've just started dabbling. This still needs quite a bit of refinement- a little more attention to detail, some inking, more practice on certain objects and body parts, etc.

http://wiki.freetalklive.com/Image:Popup_ads.JPG

http://wiki.freetalklive.com/Image:Preheating.JPG

http://wiki.freetalklive.com/Image:Ignoring_Ron_Paul_smaller.JPG

[Bruce Harrison]

Scott -- Great post. I e-mailed it to my daughter, who in her younger days thought that success was determined by taking every course in college you could because if you missed the ONE BIG ONE you would doom yourself forever.

Since graduating from Swarthmore with a degree in economics, she has been an expatriate in Spain (fluent in Spanish) working in a kiosk on the beach and as a bartender; coming back to the states and doing admin work while pursuing a career as a jewelry designer and just completed a course in becoming a yoga instructor.

I would add to your advice in this way: your path to your perfect career is not linear. It jumps all over the place like a grasshopper on a hot stove. Life is so wonderful because of how unpredictable it is. You also won't know what the career you really can excel at until you stumble into it.

Most people change careers three times in their lives. That number is going up, not down. And the facile advice that "just do what you love" is absolutely fallacious. What I'd love to do is to tour all the famous wineries of the world and write about them while garnering enough money to own 2/3 of the world. And drinking all the wine I can get my hands on without having any ill effects from it. That ain't gonna happen. But there are other ways I can support myself; the challenge is being open to not just what you love, but what you're good enough at to get others to pay you to do it.

It's funny -- I always said you followed me around in my career and wrote Dilbert based on my experiences -- we've talked about that before, at least here. This time, you beat me by a couple of days. I was reading an article in USA Today by Matt Groening, the Simpsons creator, who said essentially what you did. He said that he had two talents, neither of which was world-class but both of which were OK. He was a good comedian, but not good enough to do stand-up; he was also a decent artist, but not good enough to hang in the Louvre. So he combined those two talents, and lo and behold, the Simpsons appeared (if you ever read his earlier strip "Life in Hell" you'd probably say that he's underestimating his talent, but there you go).

So I will now press on to find out two things that I'm OK at, but not great, and see if I can combine them. Let's see -- wine drinking and sex. Nope, hard to find a career there (no pun intended). Cooking and flying. . . hmmm. The Flying Gourmet? No, I don't think so. Writing incredibly cogent posts on the Dilbert Blog and driving fast cars? Nah.

I'll let you know when I figure it out.

[Andrew]

Engineering.

Public Speaking.

Selling Points.

[bradmaas]

I have a feeling you're compiling most of these blogs into a book because of the overwhelmingly positive responses.

Personally, I only have two top 25% things: Classical pianist/composer and Computer progammer. Now I know the third thing that I need to work on, thanks!!!

Brad Maas

[Simon Allen (UK)]

Dear Claire.

Thank you for your correction to my supposed correction. I think we have a trans-Atlantic crossing point! You put a ruled line and then the name in the same space as words from another person.

In the UK, we don't just drive on the other side of the road, we put names first, then the words, then a ruled line to indicate the close of that item.

I'll try turning the screen upside down ...

[Miklos]

Well Scott I think it's just an overcomplication. I think Joel Spolsky nailed it - "smart and getting things done" are the most important skills for any job worth doing, as the vast majority of people are somehow more interested in protecting their backsides than getting things done. If you have these two, you won't ever be without an interesting job with a comfortable pay. And that's what I call success. Of course if you if you really want more stress and and you think you just can't live without a BMW - which is silly I think - then you might need to do more.

[~C4Chaos]

all i can say is, thanks for the advice. it came at the right time. keep it flowing...

~C

[Ibid]

1) I have a natural rapport with computers. We grew up together. I know how they think. If you want something done on a computer, doesn't matter what, I can do it. Tech support, internal repairs, programming, graphic design, security, networking, etc.

2) I'm a story teller. I've had a few short stories published and am polishing up my novel. I'm comfortable speaking before a group. I also listen to other peoples stories. I almost became a teacher because I can explain complex ideas to little kids and supervisors. I've dodged the management bullet several times.

3) I have a great memory. I remember stories I heard years before. I can tell you why so and such project failed a decade ago. I can tell you what to watch out for based on similar projects done over the years. I can quote comics, movies, and sketches nearly as old as I am. I can tell you the positions and scandals of various politicians and religious figures in my lifetime.
Anything I don't know I know how to find out.

I consider myself a computer nerd first and project caulk second. I see the holes in any project that need to be filled and fill them. I'm considering a run for president in 2012 since I see a job that needs to be filled and shortage of people qualified to do it.

[WATYF]

Wayne... I was a little vague about it. I actually do already "kinda" combine them. I run a small recording studio and the tracking is all done on computers. But in reality, I find it's not a bad thing to have two avenues of separate revenue. When my studio work is sparse, I can just make it up by picking up more programming work, and vice verse.

WATYF

[Robert]

Scott,

I agree. I am living testament to your statement regarding strong combinations of skills to make you a rare commodity to businesses.

I have a degree in Theoretical Mathematics, I'm finishing a masters in engineering, I can eat large quantities of food in a sitting (placed 3rd at an IFOCE competition. I beat Big Brian Subich among others and lost to Dan Moses Lerman and Tim Janus X), I can build most anything, I am great at making lists

Job - Construction Estimating- entails rudimentary mathematics, being able to read directions and apply them in the real world (Blueprints/specs), also taking clients to lunch.

It's a good and happy fit! However it is not what I set out to do when I left for college. I always thought I would be a computer programmer or an architect. I kind of fell into the math/construction thing but it wasn't far off base. And that is how I roll!

[Bijeesh]

Great 'subject'. Thanks Very much.

[Claire]

Arty (drawing, painting)
Writing
Creative (problem solving)
Musical (singing)
Acting / stage performing
Dancing
Funny

But my job entails typing stuff... boring!
And I really dont practise my talents enough!

[qwerty]

re Simon Allen (UK)

You even noticed your name beneath rather than above and still couldn't work out the poster's name comes after rather than before the post? Lucky your skills you mentioned do not require significant intelligence.

[Dmitry Z]

My own skills aside, you did make a good point of capitalism rewarding the extraordinary. I could not help but waiver from the point and wonder, what system does reward the ordinary: good people who do not try to jump to the moon but merely want to live GOOD lives? Come to think of it, your system pushes most of the people into the dustbin for under-achievers, who have to lead a fairly miserable life. Even if most of them learn two or more skills, it will only raise the bar for everyone... Sad, isn't it? Would you mind bit of socialism then, perhaps?

[stuart - velkairiwyth]

Performing (singer in a wee fun band.)

Computer construction (I had a lil side business for a while building PCs but found it easier keeping it at hobby level since it didnt make much money)

General computer knowledge (lil programming, lots about general pc operation, I can fix most problems in a few minutes, and have used PCs since a young age)

My career? Reliability engineer - working out how long power supplies and control systems will live...

Kill me now. :p

On a side note: Monday post: Wally has no coffee?!!

[ATM]

I majored in electronics, got a PG diploma is advertising, part time did a course on astrophysics. Now work for a telecom company. For sure, not for long. Insightful post.

www.arvindtm.com

[gautam]

very interesting post. my top two skills

1)verbal/languages
2)programming

dont know what the third is. perhaps i should go for public speaking.

[AusLisa]

Top 25%? I have a broad range of skills but I'd reckon them out to be roughly in the top 40% of each (sign language; motorcycle mechanics; parenting).

The stand-outs are: Spelling & grammar; Beauty (no modesty); Interpersonal communication; and Fellatio.

I've got it! I should be a hooker writing a book!!!

[Kat]

I aspire to be a curmudgeon. So far, I believe I'm in the top 25% for bad attitude. Now I just need to work on my presentation skills. Thanks for the advice!

I mean... grumble grumble you young whippersnappers...

[gr8hands]

Performing (music, acting, dance, etc.)
Languages (including programming languages)
Science/technology

[Joao]

I am persistent, I've learned to program computers relatively well, I've started my own business (even though not much reward yet, only work), and while not a native English speaker, while having only a good enough education in a poor country, I've been able to learn English mostly on my own, so I can read/write English besides Portuguese (my native language), I am an amateur chess player who learned it mostly by himself, I've had some experience at a job in I.T./development for two years even though it was never my goal, I started three Universities (one for Medical Doctors, and two for I.T.), and finished none, I learned a good deal after the Internet, mainly that folks in other parts of my country and even in other countries work and talk mostly the same (I was much shier in the beginning), I like to program computers but I dislike how other folks make it so painful (almost) on purpose, I started two blogs of my own (one in Portuguese and another in English; the latter because I wanted to practice English as well), I find folks sometimes follow me when they learn about my passion for computers...

Most of all, my family supports me a great deal and I've been a "leecher" so far.

I am happy with how far I have come, and I feel as if I am plenty victorious already.

Way to go! Thanks for the blog and your time.

[Simon Allen (UK)]

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED BUT A CORRECTION NOTE:

Hi, just to say that my post has the wrong name against it:

The post ascribed to:
Posted by: le big MAC | July 21, 2007 at 10:57 PM

is actually mine and my name is listed as the preceding item:
Posted by: Simon Allen (UK) | July 21, 2007 at 04:43 PM

Thanks,
Simon.

[rd]

something is missing for my morning coffee
or when i eat ice-cream in the evening
and for full two days!
isn't it cruel

http://flickr.com/photos/sepultura/800379272/

[DML]

This got me thinking about John Peters:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Peters

This guy went from Barbara Streisand's hairdresser to big shot Hollywood movie producer. How do you do that?! Anyone care to speculate on his top 25% skillset?

[Lou]

I trained to be an elementary school teacher, years ago. Got out of that, and drifted through to other jobs. When I moved to my current town, I became interested in local history.
I've always been good at written and verbal communication. And I'm very dedicated to things I'm interested in---I've been called "intense." My skill at local history grew, and out of nowhere, I was offered a job as the museum curator for the local historical society. I've been bery successful at it.

[Mokkery]

1. Ability to a intimidate people with my ruthless, psychotic persona. (I once shot a man in the face with a shotgun and *he* apologized to *me* after it was over)

2. Total lack of empathy for anyone but myself and my friends. (I once convinced my boss to invade a sovereign country to increase my personal wealth)

3. World-class cowardice. (I live in a bunker and I’m able to instill my irrational fears into the people around me)

I’ve been successfully working as the vice president of a major North American country for the last seven years.

[Mark Robinson, Eindhoven]

Hi Scott - this is, I think, one of your best posts yet. Great topic, thank you.

Off topic: what do you think about chipping people (see http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070722/ap_on_re_us/chipping_america;_ylt=Am3SHg651vKjZ3Y7lKBZdQcDW7oF).

[Andy]

Hmmm no blog post today? Perhaps knee deep in Harry Potter?

[Stiennon]

You nailed it Scott. I trained to be an aerospace engineer, worked as a car seat designer, got into the Internet, was a white hat hacker, joined Gartner, and now I am an evangelist for a security company.

Writing and public speaking are the two skills that have benefited my career. My juggling skills have not paid off yet.

[san]

In my opinion, business skills can only be acquired by experience. A business degree does not add much value - even in terms of how potential employers or business partners perceive your business skills. An engineering (or other "hard" degree) at least does that.

[Jez]

Answering this post and staying positive isn't presently easy for me. I guess I'm very uncomfortable with where I'm at and unsure how to hold down a job with these intangible skills and a disorganised lifestyle.

People tell me I have a number of skills, generally that I'm great with people (only on form) and very forgiving, a good listener and conversationalist (although I can't remember the last conversation I had that wasn't mostly about me or distant politics), good with kids, intellectual (less true with every passing year), funny and creative. I think I'm good at detachment, thinking laterally, advising and coming to the rescue, diplomatic, cunning and creative. Come to think of it I'm also good at research. OK, thanks.

I've missed your posts yesterday and so far today. Hope you're OK.

[Ivo Vodanovic]

This is a brand new blog where we can find information about Chile. In this blog we have nine writers that are focused in various themes. You can read about Chile's economy, rich nature, society issues, organisations and much more! We invite everyone to leave their comments. So I invite everyone to visit www.chilemade.com

[tom bernard]

excellent... as usual

send me more @ tom.b@bluewin.ch

[tom bernard]

excellent... as usual

send me more @ tom.b@bluewin.ch

[Lubna Kably]

Well I am a chartered accountant specialising in the dreaded work "tax". I love writing and drifted into journalism. But this does not really pay that well. So I have a day job at a large multinational firm and continue to write my monthly column, which features in India's largest financial daily - it is on tax, but to make it non-taxing, it contains a fictional character who pokes fun at the powers that be - those who frame tax laws! And I learn that this column is widely read.

On the downside, perhaps with this constant shift in careers, I am not top of the heap in this multinational firm.

[le big MAC]

ps Sorry to be crude and redundant at the same time, but you did push me to it...a hearty middle finger to the assholes who assume the script supervisor got her job because she gives good BJs. (The title is script girl, regardless of gender.) Shameless sexism aside, I'm sorry you weren't clever enough to pursue/create a job that consists of reading and consulting, but don't take it out on her. Maybe you should be displaying a little imagination in your career trajectory instead of wallowing in your own jealousy.

Why, come to think of it, imagination is the most important skill after all.

[le big MAC]

My 3 careers and the skills that make them:
1. Musician. My love and my life. Surprisingly, I think my excellent math skills (I majored in programming) prepared me because music is very mathematic and logical on many levels.
2. Writing. Also my life, but could be more profitable than music (insofar as two zeros plus one is....) so is more like a favorite mistress. Just a vivid and sometimes sick imagination, now combined with the patience to type it out and the maturity to understand it's not all genius. Just like #1.
3. My damn job, tech support. Superior listening skills (to listen, i.e. to sit like a lump as mean angry defectives scream at you for shit you never did) and patience (i.e. not screaming back unless the Mute button is pressed). This is far more important than scientific knowledge, although a problem solving nature (think: detective) helps. And a natural voice for radio, as people must tell me 47 times a day.
I could go on about my cooking and outdoor sport habits, i.e. the love of fine cuisine and the shame of being a fatass because of said love, caught in an endless loop. But I've pretty much made my point.

[Simon Allen (UK)]

This is going to sound self-aggrandising but, at the age of 50, enough people have told me to my face what they think of me for me to know! The things I mostly remember are the nasty things they said. Anyway, after 25 years in telecommunications (large users not Telco) I can say that my three are:

1) I am able to listen to people, and give them the confidence to talk openly to me.
2) I can write and assemble words in particular ways that are appreciated.
3) My physical and vocal presentation skills are of the highest order.

I do a job that does not really exist in the USA, I conduct non-religious ceremonies for those that live their life without religion.

That is NOT a ceremony that has a prayer or something thrown in. I am an atheist and I prepare and deliver ceremonies from that perspective, for people who do not believe. The greatest majority of those ceremonies are funerals.

In the UK, this work is in ever increasing demand and I am usually turning work down. Unfortunately ... it is not very well paid!!! Rewarding? More than anything I ever did in Comms.

[Borjan]

1. Design (graphics and product, plus 3D modelling)
2. Psychology
3. Ability to be satisfied with 80%
(4. Being full of myself.)

I'm a self-employed designer for stalls/fair-booths/stands, have a 6 months a year off and I have just bought house by the river to get away from the city when I want.

I could earn more by finding more work in my spare time, but why? This way I can spend much more time with my wife and daughter, pretend to work on movie scripts and read Scott's blog to liven up my day... ;)

[McGurker]

Public Speaking
Telling people...no, tell women what they want to hear
Tell people what they don't want to hear.

I think I'll be someone who announces to many women at once that their loved one's died in hilarious bass fishing accident. I also have mediocre comedy skills so I'll make it funny.

[ashley]

math
stats (yes they ARE different)
and the ability to listen to the inane without looking bored or annoyed (i can come off as genuinely interested in ANYTHING)

[sunflower]

I'm one of the few women who will work, drive older children around to school and activities and still commit to solely breastfeeding my newborn infant. If you are determined you can breastfeed while doing a multitude of household things, including typing in a blog while dinner is in the oven, and laundry in the dryer. Well, my husband is impressed and that is what counts...

[jai]

Two additional paths to extraordinary success:

3. A prominent family with business/political connections
4. A network of important friends developed over the years, expecially those who knew you in high school and college and who later became successful themselves. (Successful people tend to run in herds.)

[VermontGal]

1. Listening and observing people, especially, for some reason, children...maybe because they're easier.

2. Reading and writing...and for some reason, my comprehension and ability is not heavily affected by alcohol consumption.

3. Swimming--I have been able to swim practically since I could walk.

[Minister of Silly People in Green]

Probably the best career advice I've ever read. Flesh this out and you'll have a best selling book.

[Cally]

Art
Writing
Creativity/Imaginitive
Debating
Acting (If I can have more than three)

In order to balance out my ego, I am not very good at:
Math
Sports
Science
Spelling (I have spell check though)

That really narrows down my career options
Singing

[David]

Thanks for the advice.

Masters Mechanical Engineering + Master Public Policy =(hopefully) a cleaner place to live

[F. Dwarf]

Great post, Scott. I never saw it from that point of view.

My skills:
-Math
-Databases
-Public speaker

Now I just gotta find what in the hell I am going to do with them.

[Kent]

My 3 skills are that I'm a good writer, cats love me, and I'm good at math.

[leon]

Make Pay Per Click Dollar
Start With A Complete Guide Now
http://imleon.icpcn.com/

[John]

Scott: I always thought you were an engineer in your previous life?

[Phil]

Writing/proofreading
Design/illustration
Photography

[Radwaste]

Gee, Scott, if you dredged up the old DNRC Membership Roster, you'd know this stuff already.

Your faithful Smell Checker and Treadwell 7L16 Oxygen Generator Technician,

Rad

[Bertram]

Studied Physics to become an astronomer, but strayed from the path and got interested in wind energy, wrote a diploma thesis combining energy tech and fluid dynamics, with the prospect of getting stuck in aeronautics (= military stuff) which I don't like. Second leg in computer programming.

First job as an IT analyst for an electricity company, then steel plant automation (which enabled me to see the world and getting paid for it, but still I did not like aeronautics, not even as a passenger, for air sickness reasons). Had to give it up because I had a family by then.

Now I am a consultant for electronic document management (aka paperless office), combining my skills of understanding computers and human beings of many available mentalities, learning enough every day to stay above the incompetence line (your word) in a world out of control.

[CDriK]

1) Maths
2) Software Engineering

I'm a R&D Software Engineer working on a very important internationnal defense system.

[Terri]

Great post!

Hmmmm . . . I am absurdly over-educated with a law degree on top of an engineering degree [and I've got the student loans to prove it!]. Talents are:

1. No fear of public speaking, I'll wade in anywhere and usually manage to sound knowledgeable. Comes in handy in court when I discover in the middle of a trial that my client has been lying to me.

2. Decent writer.

3. Able to pick up things fairly easily and adapt to the flow.

However, I'm way too independent and snarky to be able to work for a conventional company. So, I'm permanently self-employed.

Along with being a public defender, my husband and I also run a toy company. Overnight I became CFO, head of graphic design, advertising executive and warehouse superintendent and general counsel for our little corporation. I'm on duty 24/7. [Notice how I snuck the url for our website into this post?]

Rock on everyone - Dilbert for President 2008

[Maria]

- Writing
- Breaking down complex procedures into simple steps
- Seeing opportunities

Degree in Accounting

Career as a computer book author. 68 titles since 1992. It pays the bills.

[Alex]

My three's?

1. I just do my thing ...
2. I do it my way ...
3. I don't believe in recipes for success ...

[Kevin Fairchild]

1. Reading blogs
2. Posting a response :)

[Bsquared]

Its called "Wankers" where a serial onanist is pitted againtst a politicial or manager. The kicker is that one or more might be both !

[Edwin]

Does lying, surfing the internet and playing minesweeper make up a good three? It's all I've been doing for the past 4 months. And the good thing was, I got paid well for it!

[Marxist]

Computer Science (top 10%).
Chemistry (top 25%).
Political Science(Top 5%)

[Amit]

Scott you made me think again. Never really tried to figure this out. And I must tell you it took me a lot of effort and rigorous bum scratching to even start thinking. So just when i was on the verge of slapping myself for being an aimless and shameless asshole, i courageously bumped onto 3 skills I am good at.
1) Talk senseless
2) Think senseless
3) Do nothing

I really wondered if they do define my career in any sense. But just this thought and it was enough to make me think I can start writing something like you. After all thats what Scott Adam needs the most :D

[Marco]

-dry dishes (that's been my household chore forever)
-sneak (i. e. do things without making noise, and without waking people)
-can spell. Specifically, I am not tripped up by homonyms. Like, I know when to write "its" and when it's "it's", can distinguish between "to", "too" and "two", between "your" and "you're", etc. This is actually a rare ability nowadays.

I work as a night man in a youth hostel in Amsterdam.

[YH]

Programming & Mathematics (usually top 10% in class)
Creativity & Writing
Good Sense of Humor

(2) and (3) were pointed out by friends and colleagues.

Got my degree in computer science, never actually worked in IT. Spent 8 years in navy, then left and joined a creative agency. I'm now the boss of the agency with a strong web focus.

[Clayton R.]

In my opinion, you are only in the top quarter of your field if you have the ability to prove it. It seems everyone in these comments claims they are really good in so many areas but at the same time have dead-end jobs. If someone is really so good at what they practice, shouldn't they be able to easily apply their strengths to put them on top - letting their circumstances speak louder than their words?

[sofong]

Work? Survival. Food. Shelter. Luck. Being very careful what you wish for... Love.
Scott, Great post, funny comments. Keep Dilbert coming. Thanks.

[Jeff]

Yeah, I work at Wendy's.

[Nena]

I'm one of the accidental successful people. I obtained a music performance degree, worked as an admin assistant for years (learning a lot of other people's business processes in the meantime), found I had an aptitude for writing, and now I'm a tech writer, and a pretty darn good one at that.

Not the pinnacle of success by many people's standard, but if I suddenly came into an inheritance and had no need for money anymore, I'd keep my job because I love it. To me, that's success.

[jake]

Kádár Tamás, poster, is a lying douchebag. If someone was in the top 1% of tennis playing and running, I believe we might have heard of them before, say, in the world of tennis or running? Rather than making this discovery in a Dilbert blog post.

People who posted to brag remind me off Scott's point that most people think they are much better at something than the statistics point out. Dumb people tend to think they're much smarter that they are.

I doubt the people who've posted with their stats are remotely in the ballpark.

[Mike]

There's actually a sleepy little Institute in Washington, D.C. that's been measuring peoples' aptitudes and skills, and tracking them through their later careers, for nearly a century now. Although your premise might be right, this Institute has identified a high correlation between "multiple aptitudes" and dissatisfaction with one's career.

They administer a battery of tests (mine took three days) and assign scores for a healthy number of basic aptitudes--everything from spatial visualization to rhythm memory, manual dexterity to vocabulary. What their research has found is that when people score very high in an aptitude (95% or better in their scoring system), they usually are only happy in a career if it uses that aptitude. Thus, people who score above 95% in musical aptitudes will only be happy in their job if it involves music in some way, and so forth.

The problem arises when people score more than 95% in five or more aptitudes. These people are usually described by friends as brilliant, mercurial, and talented, but they typically struggle to find work that gratifies them. The problem is that if you have six strong aptitudes and find a job that uses three of them, those talents are being utilized but you have three more that aren't. So these people might leave jobs they seem to be succeeding in, or make career moves that seem odd or unfathomable to friends and family, constantly searching for ways to use all of their abilities.

Mike

[rd]

success..
i hardly survive in this world
due to my top 1% idealism
business, communication skills, public speaking all are not my strength, i wish i could do public speaking less painfully - ha, i am almost mute almost all days (it's not a permanent disability of course)
though some good traits i do have like easy adaptability, languages, intuition, curiosity, multitasking, pretty good taste in everything
but for every good one there are tons of weaker qualities like lack of focus, lack of stamina and ambition and just plain laziness, not a millionaire material, alas
when i was to choose my major everybody told me to choose 'scientific communism/ sociology', there was such a profession at that time, people who majored in that became now like political analysts
sure i resisted to that call, wanted to pick up geology, could become a 'gold-digger' by now, but mom said only through my corpse, that's not a woman job to go to expeditions all your life, you'll have your family etc
then i thought i don't want to be dependent on someone concerning at least my health, so i chose medicine and became a labrat
at least i know how my body functions and how to read papers
if i'll get one crappy publication that's enough for me, i'll consider myself contributed a comma to the global cognizance and will reincarnate peacefully

good seance of psychotherapy, thanks

[Gorgeous]

My, you are a master manipulator. You might as well have just posted "Fans, please drone on and on about how special you are. Go!"

[GirlAtheist]

For all those with 3 random skills wondering how to combine them and get RICH... the answer is very, very simple. So simple you'll smack your head in disbelief that you didn't think of it yourself.

Start a religion.

[Monkey]

My major in college had nothing to do with what I do now, nor any job I’ve ever had. However, I started with that major as a freshman and never changed. Nearly 30 years later, I’ve have several successful occupations, none in my major field of study. Everything I’ve done, from college to career, has been something that I’ve fallen into. I happened to find something that interested me and I followed that. Usually for a few years – getting bored quick is the downfall of today’s youth - then something else came along that used the peripheral skills (e.g.,public speaking) I’d picked up along with some of my resume skills. Two mottos: The harder I work, the luckier I get and The more I enjoy my job, the greater chance that I find a better job.

My three are: I love what I do. I do what I love. I love those around me.

[Lymonhead]

I think another fascinating topic would be the parallel with what you said - something, then business, bank, then cartoons.

Mine would be religious studies to banking and corporate world to owning and running a cleaning business.

Anyway, my three at this time would be:
-Sales
-Cleaning
-Management/ Organization/ Managing relationships

I'd like to say I'm good at business but we'll see if I can get things turned around in this economy...

Another good topic is what people say you are good at versus what you consider yourself to be good at (maybe).

[Tom NC]

>>I was first you dolts ! First ! Me ! First HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAh
>>
>>Paul

If you post after finding out you have the first post, it doesn't count...
you have to boast about being the first post ON the first post.

This post just makes you LAME.

[Terry]

Creating websites
Flowing charting business processes
Leadership
Great dancer

I created a pretty cool website and am creating another blockbuster site for corporations. That incorporates the first three. Dancing career never took off, the executives didn't appreciate my foxy moves.

[D. Mented]

Sorry. Social skills trump everything else.ALWAYS.
If you're good at something and you also have good social skills (one of these is strategy...they're not all niceness) you will go far.
If you're the best that's ever been dreamed of at something really valuable and much in demand at the moment, but you have no social skills, you won't get a job as an assistant in your field.
If you suck vastly at something but you have great social skills, you'll be put in charge of major, even life-or-death decisions in the subject you suck about.
D. Mented
(speaking from expirience and observation)
Oh how I wish it weren't true.

[Okgenuine]

Songwriting and computers and.....errrr....uummmmmm...mysticism....no......heh

[Chris]

I've got degrees in mathematics and electrical engineering, and I have several friends with the same qualifications. We've been offered more jobs (in a massive variety of fields) than we could ever hope to take up. It helps that I'm also a decent speaker and have good writing skills.

I've done work in astrophysics, information security, industrial mathematics, image processing and economics. Having played the field for a bit, I've finally decided that I'm going to stick with the mathematics and become a university academic once I finish my PhD (which I'm currently about halfway through.

But the important thing to note here is that combining skills increases the amount of opportunities available to you by a disproportionate amount. Always get multiple qualifications, and you'll walk into just about any job you're interested in.

[thesuperbongo]

communicating - mostly written but also verbally.

I'm really good at eyeballing spaces and knowing what will fit and not

cooking

[Arby]

Wanted to be an astronaut but find I throw up a lot when upside down or falling.

I like to sing and play the guitar but have zero talent.

Wanted to design and build beautiful buildings but higher math and engineering freak me out.

So became successful in real estate, retired and live comfortably

Am very impressed with an astronaut that has musical talent and built his own home

[Richard N]

1. Patience
2. Creative and Strategic mind
3. Strong desire to always excel at whatever I do

Job: Poker player.
Next up: Starting my own company.

[Brett Battles]

Writing
Public Speaking
Problem Solving

I'm a novelist.

[brian]

I'm really awkward an because of it I am sometimes good at breaking software products (QA)

I'm patient.

[TrevOverT]

I am, like the overwhelming majority of fellow comment creators here, a successful self-delusionist, a briliant egotist and an equally brilliant lover... but why do I have to tell you?
Or is that obvious?

[Michael]

My drawing skills are great, I'm optimistic about myself, and I'm a great liar in public. Sure, there are a lot more than that, like how attractive I am, but that not the point.

But I wondered if I had what it takes to be a cartoonist after reading a comic strip sometime last week, so I tried it out. I drew five comic using flash, and god knows I can't draw using a computer without a stylus of some sort. The result was poor but the writing was decent, and I posted the comics on a website to be judged. I also asked some friends to judge them too, and the result was positive, as were the comments at the website. Too bad I can't be a cartoonist, It's fun, but I am too lazy to draw that many comics 365 days a week.

[locomotivebreath1901]

I studied real life, but I suck at it.
Does that count?

[Millbert]

Judging by some of these comments, I would say that many people here are in the top 5% of being full of themselves.

[m]

singing
acting
talking

[David]

If you approved this:

I was first you dolts ! First ! Me ! First HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAh

Paul

on purpose, thanks.

[Jef]

Physics / math(s), CPA / MBA, cynicism. Unfortunately the social skills of a donkey so I'd support your communication opinion as I'm probably maxed out in the foothills of senior management. But boy can I model their hypocrisy.

[squigs]

Lets see - I'm in the top quartile for weight and laziness.

Anybody want to hire a fat layabout?

[Brandy]

1. Excellent Listener
2. Geology
3. Sounding smarter than I am

I cut hiking trails for the government.

[Scripty]

Hello! I am a script supervisor! (15-year veteran) I agree, finding that perfect career is a combination of skill, luck and passion. Once I started in film, I wanted it, and I worked very hard to prove that to people.

By the way, some people in the comments have referred to your script supervisor as a script writer...We (script supervisors) are not writers. We supervise the continuity of the movie as its being filmed. That's where you'll find us hobnobbing with top directors, writers, and celebrities. Although I'm not sure if I'm a good hobnobber or not..... Maybe that's my skill!

[Kádár Tamás]

1. Computers
2. Languages
3. Problem solving

...so I'm currently a technician (read: computer jack-of-all-trades) at a translation agency :)

When will all those "I'm FIRST" bozos realize that they will never be first because you're already reviewing 100 comments that were already sent in while they were congratulating themselves on being FIRST???????

Now that I have got that off my chest:

1. Tennis (top 1%)
2. Running fast (top 1%)
3. Pinball machines (tournament winner extraordinaire)

So far hasn't paid off.

Your 'follow-my-path-to-success' blog reminds me of a speech I once heard made by a CEO of a company I worked for. He described all the chances he had taken in his career and urged us to take similar chances using his success as an inspiration. What he didn't tell us about (because of his self-absorption), was that 100 other suckers who were his peers had taken similar chances and had been fired. Please don't preach to us that we can be as successful, wonderful, rich etc. as you are if we only just ..... It comes off as smug. Stick to funny please.

What worked for you didn't just happen because of two slightly ordinary talents or because of your oft-mentioned comedy formulae. You created characters that resonate with every working man and woman who reads about them. We have an emotional attachme