 Acquiring skills is extremely important. Different jobs require some skill set, and having them makes one stand out from the crowd. According to LinkedIn Learning, the most sought after hard and soft skills are creativity, persuasion, collaboration, adaptability, emotional intelligence, blockchain, cloud computing, analytical reasoning, artificial intelligence, UX designs, business analysis, affiliate marketing, sales, scientific computing, and video production. End of quote. People who possess various skills are more likely to get jobs than people who do not. As you grow older, you will no longer be able to run as fast as you did when you were younger. In this video, I'll be sharing with you 9 skills you can acquire when you are young. 1. Financial management skill Financial management is essential both for the 9-5 corporate executives and entrepreneurs. It determines a person's financial success. Unfortunately, it can only be relevant over time and through experience. When you are young, you have the liberty to spend all your money and start from square one. The major advantage you have is time. You can spend 10 years learning how to manage your finances and still have time to spare. But when you are older, your financial habits are likely more deep-seated in your mind than a younger person. This means that it is more difficult to convince an older person to change the methods of managing his finances than a young person. 2. Creativity skill The average child's mental growth is stimulated by undertaking creative activities. Creativity is a form of self-expression. There is nothing more satisfying and fulfilling for children than to be able to express themselves openly without judgment. It is a critical part of growth. If for some reason this is interfered with, one ends up underdeveloped. Creativity is a transferable skill and gets better with practice. Idea generation and problem-solving are all linked to creativity. Learning creativity at a young age enables the adults who apply it to work. If it is not learned and exercised at a younger age, it is unlikely to be learned afterwards. As the saying goes, you can't teach an old dog new tricks. 3. Resilience skill It takes an incredible amount of work, patience and discipline to accomplish anything great, according to an American writer, Greg Kincaid. No matter how much falls in us, we keep plowing ahead. That is the only way to keep the roads clear. Resilience is not a one-off activity, but a mindset cultivated over years of endurance. A person who has never stayed up all night for a straight week working on a project is unlikely to just begin, especially when they are older. According to Lao Tzu, a Chinese philosopher, watch your thoughts, they can become your words. Watch your words, they can become your actions. Watch your actions, they can become your habits. Watch your habits, they can become your character and your character becomes your destiny. Strong habits cultivated over time are very difficult to abroot. This is why skills like resilience should be learned from a young age. 4. Problem-solving skills This skill, just like others, requires a lot of practice. You cannot claim to possess problem-solving skills without actually solving any problems. Problem-solving skills allow you to look at a problem objectively and analyze it for solutions. It helps you to be able to picture different scenarios of the problem and a proper solution that covers all probabilities. It is a crucial tool for both business owners and corporate executives. If you do not possess this skill, you will likely struggle with decision-making in your business and your workplace. 5. Growth mindset This is a fast-becoming one of the essential skills of the 21st century. Unfortunately, many people don't have it. According to John Wooden, an American basketballer, you have to apply yourself each day to becoming a little better. By becoming little each day and every day, over a period of time, you will become a lot better. A person with a growth mindset is continuously learning and resilient in his endeavors. According to Carole Dweck, an American psychologist, in growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. Brains and talents are just the starting point. This skill, unfortunately, cannot be learned when one is old. It is best to cultivate it as early as possible. 6. Critical thinking skill It involves observations, analysis, interpretation, reflection, evaluation, experience, explanation, problem-solving, and decision-making. It is a way of thinking in which you don't simply accept all arguments and conclusions but rather ask analytical questions to explore different angles of an argument and findings. Critical thinking, like other skills, takes time. You will probably have failed to assess a lot of problems critically before you get the hang of it. It is an invaluable skill every serious business person or corporate executive ought to possess. 7. Leadership skill Leadership is as outstanding as the resources available for your use. An organization that has a bad leader is unlikely to succeed. A good leader inspires action. According to Ronald Reagan, 48 U.S. president, the greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the great things. He is the one who gets the people to do the greatest things. A good leader is tested over time to hone his leadership skills. It is a skill you learn when you are younger. Do not get me wrong. You can hold positions in your organizations when you are older, but leadership is beyond positions. According to Jack Welch, an American business executive, chemical engineer, and writer, before you are a leader, success is about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. You are not a leader simply because you hold a managerial position, but also helping others grow. 8. Fast language learning skills According to Science Facts, America, the older you get, the more difficult it is to speak French like a Parisian. Learning a language is possible at an older age. However, fast language learning can only be done at a young age. Learning a new language can distinguish a person among peers. Most people rarely speak other languages beyond English and their mother tongue. Being proficient in any of the dominant global tongues can set a person apart. Unfortunately, this happens fast only for young people. It is wise to learn other languages while you are still young. 9. Receiving constructive criticism No one likes to be told that they are wrong, or even that they could do something more effectively than they did. It is easy to resent the person correcting you or to ignore them completely. As a person who is bound to interact or work with others regularly, these things are inevitable. To learn to accept criticism, it is wise to look at the intention of the speaker, not what is said. This is extremely difficult to learn at a young age and much more when you are older.