At 47 I’ve had more than my fair share time in corporate America. About 20 years ago I found my current career path in supply chain operations. In that time I’ve worked my way up to a director level positions and have held just about every position in supply chain from dock hand loading trucks to purchasing & inventory control to running the entire supply chain (sourcing, purchasing, warehousing, logistics) for a multi-national consumer products manufacturer.
I guess you could say at this point I have some niche expertise in the business world. Before my I found this niche in operations I held a myriad of jobs including retails sales associate, car salesman, call center customer service representative, home health aide, and was even a behavioral science counselor in the Army. At times I feel like I am sort of a jack of all trades but I do realize my weaknesses.
I am somewhat of an introvert and have to really push myself to be outgoing and put myself out there with people. While I have been successful (slow lane style) in Sales and have a decent knowledge of sales techniques and even hold a marketing degree I know sales is not my greatest strength. However, having been in operations so long and seeing so many not so smart people become successful in sales, I’m wondering what is the hardest skill to master in business. Knowing that most of the people on here are entrepreneurs with small businesses and wearing multiple hats with your business what do you find is the hardest skill to become proficient in?
Aside from direct technical skills (i.e. coding) what is the hardest part of your business to master?
Sales?
Accounting?
Operations functions (i.e. sourcing, inventory management, logistics)?
Marketing?
Finance?
Something else?
I guess you could say at this point I have some niche expertise in the business world. Before my I found this niche in operations I held a myriad of jobs including retails sales associate, car salesman, call center customer service representative, home health aide, and was even a behavioral science counselor in the Army. At times I feel like I am sort of a jack of all trades but I do realize my weaknesses.
I am somewhat of an introvert and have to really push myself to be outgoing and put myself out there with people. While I have been successful (slow lane style) in Sales and have a decent knowledge of sales techniques and even hold a marketing degree I know sales is not my greatest strength. However, having been in operations so long and seeing so many not so smart people become successful in sales, I’m wondering what is the hardest skill to master in business. Knowing that most of the people on here are entrepreneurs with small businesses and wearing multiple hats with your business what do you find is the hardest skill to become proficient in?
Aside from direct technical skills (i.e. coding) what is the hardest part of your business to master?
Sales?
Accounting?
Operations functions (i.e. sourcing, inventory management, logistics)?
Marketing?
Finance?
Something else?
Dislike ads? Become a Fastlane member:
Subscribe today and surround yourself with winners and millionaire mentors, not those broke friends who only want to drink beer and play video games. :-)
Access Restricted: Unlock 1,000,000+ Posts
Stop Peeking Through the Keyhole.
Open the Door.
You hit a wall because the best advice isn't free—it's earned. Since 2007, MJ DeMarco has been active here daily (99.9% active rate), building a war room for entrepreneurs who refuse to settle for mediocrity.
- Active Daily: Life-changing content posted dozens of times every day. No dead threads.
- MJ's Inner Circle: Direct access to the author of The Millionaire Fastlane.
- Vetted Network: Connect with founders scaling to 7 and 8 figures.
- Proven Roadmaps: Strategy over motivation. Execution over "hustle porn."
"SCALED TO 6-FIGURE MONTHS"
"Tips and advice here saved me from huge mistakes, others allowed me to scale my business to 6-figure months."— User MitchC
"INSANE QUALITY OF PEOPLE"
"The number of high quality people I've met from this forum has been insane. All of it predicated on building real value."— User Richard Peck
"You are the average of the five people you surround yourself with."
Are you surrounding yourself with success?
