The Rarest Skill of All
Before this week, I had never heard about American President McKinley needing to send an urgent message to General Garcia in Cuba. I don’t know any of the details of the war, or of the people, or of any of the statistics surrounding why the war happened.
One thing I learned, though, is about a man named Colonel Rowan. He had a fierce determination and will to find a way to accomplish what he had been asked to do. He found the General deep in the mountains of Cuba. The difference between him and everyone else: fortitude.
So many times we see a difficult task ahead of us and we find all kinds of ways to procrastinate. I am a rehabilitating champion procrastinator. I might want to do other things first, find someone to help me do the work, or see if someone else might do it instead (which is rare, because even though I put things off until the deadline, I am determined still to do my own work). I have improved. Me ten years ago is much different from me today that is set on getting tasks done with time to spare.
Rowan didn’t procrastinate or make any excuses. He simply took the letter and headed off. The article containing this story calls that the ability to execute, and it is the rarest skill.
Why is it rare? I think because by nature, we aren’t all hard-wired to automatically work hard and be independent.
Well, I ask myself if I can do a job and do it well the first time. If I can’t, how do I approach what has to happen? Figure it out myself with research and seeking advice, or seeking others to do it for me? There are many things I can’t do that I’m not interested in – for example, I don’t feel I need to know how to change the wheel bearing on my vehicle – but there are many things that although I may not be interested in I can still do. I’m not terribly interested in scrubbing toilets, but alas, it has to happen.
When it comes to business, I hope that I have worked hard to establish a reputation of being able. I am cheery by nature, and willing to try new things. I also claim to be a quick study, so that even if something has to be explained to me, I’ll pick it up easily and happily.
When my employers, colleagues and clients think and speak of me, I hope it is similar to how Rowan acted:
“Rowan didn’t equivocate. He didn’t ask McKinley for detailed instructions. He didn’t hire a consultant or assemble a task force. He simply took the letter and delivered it to Garcia”