We often think that important job skills are learned entirely through special training or education. However, many skills learned both in and out of school can lead to big accomplishments.  For instance, can you . . .

• order a pizza by phone?
• learn a new card game?
• decide what car to buy?
• teach a friend to skateboard?
• repair your bike?
• get your chores done on time?
• write a note to your parents?
• listen to a friend's problems?
• work well with others?
• know the right tool to do the job?
• take care of your laundry without being asked?
• do more than you were asked (like raking after mowing)?
• finish homework without help and get a good grade?
• hammer a nail or use a photocopier?
• take a telephone message?
• make brownies following the directions on the box?
• figure out what a CD costs at 10 percent off?

• Read an instruction manual.
• Write a summary of a telephone call.
• Use math to find out how long it took to finish a project.
• Give your ideas (speak up) at a meeting.
• Listen to how to do a new job duty, and remember the main ideas.

• Learn a new job task; know why and how to learn.
• Reason--Are you doing the job the best way? Does what you're doing make sense?
• Create a better way to do a task properly.
• Decide which project to do first and how to begin.
• Solve problems by looking at many options and choosing one.