One of the strange things I come across in careers is the assumption that being really good at something is what’s important to having a job in an area: art, programming, writing, managing, etc.  It’s a pretty easy delusion to fall into, and one I like to caution against.

Being good at something, even really good, or amazingly good, doesn’t mean you can actually use such skills on the JOB.

Being good at making money using a skill or skillset isn’t the same as actually being able to merely use the skill.

First, all jobs involve peripheral skills, skills beyond the core
aptitudes needed to do your job.  You may be an artist, but you’ll need
the language and people skills to get along with writers and clients.
You could be a programmer, and you’ll need the skills in business
analysis to understand requirements.  An international job may require
you to be multi-lingual.  Your job is going to require more skills than
what your job is.

Secondly, jobs involve personality traits as well – and if those aren’t
cultivated, you may find you can’t do the job, or do it well.  You may
need accurate scheduling, or a sociable personality, a certain level of
endurance, or some other inclination. You can have all the right
skills, but may not be able to apply them properly without the right
personality traits.

Identifying the extra skills and extra personality traits you need to
do your job is important to your success – and even more to your
fannish careers and hopes – because if you want to live your passion,
you want to do it right.

- Steve