Read time : 8 minutes

I cannot speak for everyone, but I can share my personal experience.

Compliments are underrated. As a matter of fact, one of the most transformative moments in my writing career came from a single compliment. My first client told me: “When you see someone who knows how to write, you’ll know.”

This happened a handful of years ago, but I wish I could have framed that statement and hung it on my wall. It was that powerful; I mean, it literally changed my life. That single statement gave me a huge confidence boost that I didn’t even know I was searching for.

My first foray into professional writing started with me applying for a web content gig. Ever since I was in high school, I’d been told I knew how to write, so I already had an inkling that I possessed some talent. By the time I got to the university, I’d already written a novel, though it was lost before I could convert it to a digital format. What I had left were a few poems I’d submitted to competitions. I had no proper portfolio, just a little passion for writing, and a few scattered works to my name.

After I’d successfully completed a few projects with this client, I went back to ask him: “Why did you hire me even though I didn’t have a portfolio?”

His response? “When you see someone who knows how to write, you’ll know.”

This moment taught me a very valuable lesson: talent will always find ways to express itself. You may not be able to present your skills in a fancy way like the well-established experts do, but when you’re good at something, it shows.

Someone was able to recognize my ability even without having a fancy CV or listing out a long list of credentials. It was one of the first indicators that my skills were marketable.

How Do You Know If Your Skill is Marketable?

It’s not just about the money, though being paid for your work is an important marker. One of the earliest indicators that your skill is marketable is feedback. If people—whether friends, family, or maybe even strangers—consistently compliment your work, there’s a good chance you have something valuable to offer.

If there’s a task you excel at that others find difficult, that’s another sign. In my case, it wasn’t just writing. I had developed a fast typing speed from years of helping my parents type exam questions for their school. I also became a voracious reader, though some may make an argument I was born that way.

I grew up in a family of book lovers. It showed early in school when I discovered I could finish any passage in the textbook faster than anyone else in class—and get full understanding while reading too. This skill gave me an edge when it came to writing research.

The ability to quickly sift through large amounts of information and pull out valuable nuggets is a skill that has served me well in my writing career. It’s not glamorous, but it’s essential. It’s an ability not many people around me possess and it also nudged me in the direction of professional writing.

Has anyone ever asked you to teach them how to do something—anything? If you have something that people are willing to learn from you, then you may have a marketable skill.

Everyone Is Doing It

One of the biggest obstacles to sharing my skills with the world was the idea that others were already doing what I wanted to do—and doing it better. It’s easy to feel discouraged when you look around and see so many people excelling in your field.

When I started, there were writers with a large following on social media, some people had a professional-looking website, some were invited for speaking events—if you’re looking to be intimidated, there’s lots of examples everywhere. How about when you hear what some writers charge for their services, and you ask yourself, would I ever be good enough to charge that amount?

Here’s the truth: there will always be people with more experience or knowledge, and that’s okay. Do you want to know whether you’re going to make it in your field? I’ll give you one sure-fire guarantee: If you find yourself in a state of constant growth, then you’re going to make it.

I learned that even successful romance writers like Nora Roberts would acknowledge to you that they’re still learning. The key is to stop comparing yourself to others and focus on improving your own craft.

Have You Been Paid for Your Skill?

If you have this, then nothing should stop you from putting yourself out there. If you still have doubts, one of the final and most concrete indicators that your skill is marketable is whether you’ve been paid for it. Even if you were paid in kobo, if someone is willing to exchange money for your work, then it means you have something of value and you should be willing to put yourself out there.

Once you’ve reached this point, the next step is simple: observe the best in your field, learn what they’re doing, and find out ways to improve your own skills. If people can pay a little, then they can pay a lot for the same skill.

Final Thoughts

If you’re getting compliments, doing something others find difficult, and have been paid for your work, even though it’s one naira, there’s a good chance your skills are marketable. From there, it’s about honing your craft, learning from the best, and pushing past your self-doubt.

The key isn’t waiting until you feel completely ready—you never will. Start now, and trust that your talent will speak for itself.