Know the top two or three things you do in your job and which actually involve a skill. That is what you know and are paid for. If in doubt, talk to your manager. Note this down.
List the skills you must acquire to progress in your current role.
But what if your industry changes? How do you know if an investment in the skills of your current industry make sense?
Understand how your industry has evolved, and what has normally been the precursor for change in that industry.Make a list of the “new” skills that the industry may require. Can you acquire them before everyone else?
The next step for you is to understand the value of the skills you have in that industry and the applicability of these in other industries.
Each year you must allocate a certain percentage of your earnings as well as time to updating your existing skills or acquiring new/related skills. List down the skills you “must” acquire or upgrade. Find out if it requires an investment of only time or money as well.