The one skill you need to make money

I remember the moment when I was considering buying bitcoin at $350. It was volatile then, and I was certain the government would eventually try to ban it. It was the currency of Silk Road and drug dealers, but I knew there was something to this weird new currency. I read the whitepaper, and it all made sense. Was it too good to be true?

I didn’t buy into bitcoin that day, but I eventually did. And I eventually made a small fortune, lost 90% of it, then made a larger fortune, and lost quite a bit of that.

Since the stroke, I’ve sold a bit to pay for the Cadillac of wheelchairs, rehab, and many other things to make life easier.

I’m still invested in the crypto market, and I do think it will go even higher (not financial advice) but it will still remain volatile. But I believe in the core value of bitcoin and ethereum.

But I still don’t think it’s the best investment.

I also don’t think the best investment is real estate, stocks, or even index funds.

The best investment out there is much closer, much easier.

The best investment is in yourself.

And the best investment in yourself is learning how to communicate, and specifically learning how to write.

But wait, you say. Writing is dead.

Video is the future.

ChatGPT is replacing writers.

Here’s the thing. Even the most popular YouTubers have to learn how to write. For a video to go viral, it needs to have a high click-through rate and that requires a spectacularly crafted headline. A video needs an engaging script.

It requires writing.

And even with the advent of ChatGPT and large language models based on the entirety of online human communication, to be successful you have to be able to prompt (write), identify good writing and improve on what comes out of AI.

AI generated content will never be able to replace inspired content, but it can support it.

Learning how to communicate through the written word is still the most profitable skill I have. My communication skills will never crash. But it does require regular investment through practice.

Markets are not controllable. Your ability to communicate is something always in your power.

So, the number one skill to make money? Writing.

And writing is always a sales job. Even if you think you’re just writing for fun, if you have an audience in mind, it is sales.

How to Uplevel Your Writing in 10 Steps

• Know your audience. Who are they? What is their pain? What do they aspire to do, have, or be?
• How can you help them get there?
• Why should they trust you?
• What is the Return on Investment for reading your words?
• What painful thing happens if they don’t consume your content? What is the sense of urgency?
• What does their life look like after they’ve consumed your content?
• Why might they object to reading your book, essay, or email? How do you address that?
• Why are other people reading your content? What would other people say about your writing? What social proof do you have about your writing?
• What action do you want your audience to take when they read your writing?
• Sound familiar? Yep. It’s all sales. If you’re trying to get someone to do something, whether it’s your teenager and their homework or your spouse emptying the dishwasher, it’s a sales job.

It’s no different with your writing.

And considering your audience with empathy with what they get out of your product (or writing) is job number one when it comes to sales.

That whole adage of “always be closing?” It applies to everything, including your writing. All writing targets an audience, and it has a purpose: to succinctly get your audience from where they are to where you think they should be.

It’s about growing relationships and establishing authority. And that’s all sales, too.

My goal with this particular essay is to consider your goals and your audience when you invest in your words, and your words are important and meaningful.

Your words are your greatest investment.

This post was originally a part of the Zantastic newsletter. You can read the rest here, and subscribe below.