Skill stacking is a school of thought where instead of mastering one skill, you become proficient in a range of different skills, creating a unique skillset, where it is easy to stand out among the crowd. Essentially these skills, when combined, are more valuable than the sum of its parts.

Let’s use goldsmithing as an example. The idea is that you first build your core skills – in this case the manufacturing of your everyday, normal jewelry. Building on top of that core, you learn complementary skills, for example 3D modeling, or sales, or perhaps even learning how to repair tools and machines used in the field. This gives you a competitive edge in the job market, because – ideally – people who have the same exact skill set are hard to come by.

Our world is evolving fast, and to succeed, we need to evolve with it. Skill stacking is a good philosophy to keep in mind when it comes to finding and maintaining a job. The aforementioned example offered just a few examples of skill stacking. In reality, the range of skills you can learn and make use of is extremely wide. Wider than you might think. Everything from writing, drawing, manufacturing, technical and mechanical skills, marketing, leadership, financial literacy, psychological skills, speaking skills, – the list goes on – can be used to make a strong and unique skill stack.