If you could purchase a skill for $1 MM, what would it be?

An interesting parlor game I recently came across: If you could purchase a skill for $1 MM, what skill would it be?

Conditions:
* You get the skill immediately upon paying the $1 MM fee, matrix download style.
* There is no limit to the number of skills that you may purchase, but you may not raise outside capital to make this purchase by selling equity in your future earnings and no bank will loan you money for this end. The idea here is that it will take you many years of hard work to achieve the wealth necessary to make this purchase - pick something that really matters to you.
* You are encouraged to list up to three skills that you considered before making a final decision. Please explicitly state your actual decision.

Examples:
* native fluency in a language
* expert skiing skills
* a PhD's knowledge of one academic subject.

 
Gekko21:
Skills 1. 1 second refractory period 2. Adderall type concentration without any side effects 3. Michael Phelp's metabolism without doing the exercise.

Anything else you can just learn on your own........

These are very interesting answers and a common attitude expressed towards this question. Essentially, "Buy a skill that's physical, rather than knowledge-based because knowledge is something that's viewed as easier to gain. As they say in Basketball, 'You can't teach 7-feet'" See the follow-up questions below.

New Yorker:
1. Paint like Monet 2. Write like John Fowles 3. PhD in Physics

These very closely mirror my own answers... :)

To all:

The obvious follow-up questions are: * "If you care about xyz so much, why aren't you pursuing it"
* "Does the ease of acquiring these new skills devalue them in your own eyes? " - in other words, imagine you have your new skill. How much has it really enriched your life? Are you content/happy or have you moved on to taking it for granted because you didn't really work for it?

 
<span class=keyword_link><a href=//www.wallstreetoasis.com/finance-dictionary/what-is-london-interbank-offer-rate-libor>LIBOR</a></span>:
I'd buy "Style's" skills in The Game.
I've got good news for you LIBOR - you can save your $1mm, because that can be taught.
- Capt K - "Prestige is like a powerful magnet that warps even your beliefs about what you enjoy. If you want to make ambitious people waste their time on errands, bait the hook with prestige." - Paul Graham
 
GOB:
I'd buy Kenny Power's skill of having extraordinary hair

Well with all your banana stand money you can probably afford a couple of skills.

There have been many great comebacks throughout history. Jesus was dead but then came back as an all-powerful God-Zombie.
 

Skills 1. 1 second refractory period 2. Adderall type concentration without any side effects 3. Michael Phelp's metabolism without doing the exercise.

Anything else you can just learn on your own........

"Greed, in all of its forms; greed for life, for money, for love, for knowledge has marked the upward surge of mankind. And greed, you mark my words, will not only save Teldar Paper, but that other malfunctioning corporation called the USA."
 
Gekko21:
  1. Michael Phelp's metabolism without doing the exercise.

This has the possibility to backfire. While it may be cool at first to have the liberty to eat whatever you want without detriment, I can see it turning into a liability. IMO, unless you also get MP's body, it isn't worth it to spend an extra hour or two eating per day...shit adds up.

 

Id pay to see the future.

"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer "Your grammar made me wish I'd been aborted." -happypantsmcgee
 

The 'skill' to get any woman I wanted...then I wouldn't have to worry about my job, money, etc because I would find me a hot ass sugar momma

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 

I'd go with a photographic memory. Would save me so much time in life / my career if I could recall dates / facts / whatever with ease.

CompBanker’s Career Guidance Services: https://www.rossettiadvisors.com/
 
HFFBALLfan123:
Be able to throw a 130mph fastball, wouldn't have to do shit but play 1 out of 5 games.......

Nah, that kind of velocity, you would be a closer and play in 60 - 80 games. Awesome answer though

If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses - Henry Ford
 
happypantsmcgee:
HFFBALLfan123:
Be able to throw a 130mph fastball, wouldn't have to do shit but play 1 out of 5 games.......

Nah, that kind of velocity, you would be a closer and play in 60 - 80 games. Awesome answer though

What was that movie where the kid messed up his arm on an escalator or something silly and then it turned into a cannon? He got on a major league team even though he was 12. It was a GREAT movie, just can't remember the name.

 

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