The Rules of Wealth, 3rd Edition

RULE 43

Cultivate a skill and it’ll repay you over and over again

There’s a saying that he who pays the piper calls the tune. And that’s true. But the piper can decide how much he will charge for playing that tune if what he plays is:

• in demand
• rare
• particularly difficult (or in some way unique) to play.

Get yourself a decent instrument, a decent set of tunes, an unusual or quirky PR approach, a USP,* create a name for yourself and the world will beat a path to your door. And pay you handsomely.

Once you can do something no one else can do – or as few people as is possible – you can pretty well name your price. And believe me it doesn’t have to be a particularly difficult skill, just one that somebody else wants and will pay for. Remember ...