You already have the Key
Every day, people show up to life with skill sets they don’t even know they have.
Not because they’re hiding them. Not because they’re unqualified. But because no one ever told them that wrangling a group of chaotic adventurers through a Dungeons & Dragons campaign or coordinating a full-scale historical reenactment for 1,500 people counted as “real” experience.
Spoiler alert: it does. And that’s the core truth that Masterwork Keys is built on.
Whether you’ve spent years on stage, behind a screen, in a cosplay workshop, or moderating an online forum, the things you’ve done already count. You don’t have to start from scratch; now you need to learn how to translate what you know into a language the world will respect. That’s what skill transference is.
🔍 What is Skill Transference?
Skill transference is the process of taking abilities and insights gained in one context and applying them effectively in another. And while it may sound academic, it’s actually very personal.
It’s what happens when:
a burlesque performer uses stage presence to land a public speaking gig,
a guild leader moves into project management,
a fanfiction writer pivots into copywriting or grant proposals,
or a stay-at-home parent uses their logistics skills to organize nonprofit events.
The world is full of gatekeepers who want to reduce your worth to what’s on your résumé. This blog—and the Meritworks movement—is about unlocking that gate with a key you already have in your hand.
🎮 My Origin Story (Every Hero Has One)
I started in education, moved through theatre, then into strategic communications, and finally landed in psychology. And somewhere in the middle, I was running D&D games, planning historic feasts, producing burlesque shows, and writing 80-page event manuals… for fun.
I didn’t think any of that would count in the world of work. Until one day, standing in the break room of a recruiting agency, I overheard my boss rejecting a qualified candidate because “he listed gaming on his résumé.”
That’s when it hit me: there’s a whole world of talented, passionate people who’ve been told they’re unqualified—not because they lack skills, but because the systems around them don’t know how to recognize what they’ve built.
So I did what any good nerd with a PhD would do: I made it my mission to change that.
💬 What to Expect from This Blog
This blog is a toolbox. A journal. A safehouse. A pep talk. A tactical manual. A reminder that your weird, winding, wonderful life has value.
You’ll find:
Deep dives into what skill transference actually looks like
Case studies of transformation (yes, yours could be one!)
Tips for communicating your experience with confidence
Reflections on imposter syndrome, burnout, and identity
Occasional rants about systems that need smashing
Some posts will be tactical. Others will be deeply personal. But all of them will come from someone who’s been in the in-between and found a way through.
🔑 Before You Go: A Quick Exercise
Take five minutes. Grab a piece of paper.
Write down three things you do for fun regularly.
Then next to each, write:
What skills does this actually use?
What kind of job or role could those skills apply to?
No wrong answers. Just curiosity. Just connection.
You might be surprised what doors that little key can open.
