The more things you’re literate in, the more you are capable of. My father is a CrossFit and Olympic Weightlifting coach. When he first started working out of the gym I would listen to him talk about the classes he was teaching and the exercises they were gonna be doing, I’d ask a few questions here and there and he would answer. Eventually I wound up working out under my father’s watchful eye, and suddenly I was getting a crash course into what the work outs were, what muscles targeted, and how to move correctly. Some time later I managed to get a front desk job at this gym, and I began to learn the administrative/ business side of things. Some of the literacy I had from having worked secretarial jobs as well as retail jobs came in to play. They helped me integrate into my position easier, and to ingratiate myself with my boss, my co-workers, and the clientele. This also brought changes into what responsibilities the front desk had which were beneficial to the gym, but not so much to us, and in particular, me. More on this later.
Now due to a series of unfortunate events, we had no sales person for a decent period of time, and it fell to those of us at the front desk to now participate in selling people on the gym. This is where all my literacy was put to the test, and they were good. I had made a point to not only work out under my father’s watchful eye, but to participate in all the classes the gym had to offer. So I was able to answer all the questions I was asked and then some. I was great at hooking them, but I did not know how the contract worked, I was never taught so I was not literate in it, and so despite all my hard work, when these clients returned looking to sign up under me, so I could receive commission, they would end up signing under my boss, or one of my co-workers, and I would lose out on the sale.
My literacies in all these different areas, gave me the ability to do my job so well, and so efficiently that the job description changed, however my lack in one area caused me to lose out monetarily.
Morale of the story, be as literate in as many things as you can, your knowledge and skills can help lay out a path that can benefit you professionally, and personally.
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