Expertise is a matter of perspective. It cannot be based in years. It cannot be based on experience.
It can only be based on perception.
To the second grader at school, the third grader is an expert
Simply because the kid in the third grade knows more stuff than the second grade kid knows. Having said that, the third grader might not feel like such an expert and consider the second grader to be smarter than he is.
In this very case, the second grader thinks the third grader is an expert. And the third grader thinks the second grader is an expert. So when you ask: Is Bruce Whatisname a marketing expert, then you're actually asking the right question. Because the question is one of perception. Do you think Bruce is an expert?
If so, then he is. The results don't matter, because no matter how much expertise Bruce may bring to the table, it doesn't matter if you don't implement those very same tactics and strategy to bring you income. However, does that make Bruce less of an expert in your eyes?
And then there's Bruce's perspective
Does he think he's an expert? Perspective comes into play again here. Comparing himself with say someone whom Bruce considers an expert, he may not consider himself an expert. Bruce may consider himself an expert in a specific topic. And that's why you need to get down to niches.
Niches create the perception of expertise
It's why brain surgeons earn more than general practitioners in the medical trade. The GP can save your life just as a brain surgeon can. But the factor of niche causes you to place a higher value on the brain surgeon. A higher level of expertise. But is the GP not more of an expert? I mean she can sort out your cold, cough, dysentery, malaria, diphtheria etc. So shouldn't she earn more?
You don't think so, do ya?
Because it's your perception. Nothing else.
Expertise is just a matter of perception. Not one of reality. Any kid in the third grade at school knows that
Next Step: Want to get more Marketing Strategies? Find the entire marketing strategies series in text, audio with cartoons!
Subscribe : Get Updates via RSS | Get Updates via Email (Fill in your details in the top-right hand form)
Interesting perspective (pun intended).
I’ve had people call me an expert, and yet there’s so many people that I look up to as experts that the title doesn’t seem to fit me. But…. that’s my perspective.
Wouldn’t the GP be a generalist though, rather than an expert? Much more useful on a regular basis than a specialist who’s only good for one aspect of medicine. But, still a generalist who knows a bit about a lot of (medical) subjects?
GPs can be experts. There are GPs for instance that focus on only children (child specialists). Um, I know that kind of crosses some sort of what’s a GP-what’s a specialist boundary, but yeah a GP can be an expert. My GP for instance is an expert in calming patients. It doesn’t matter what he says, he says it in such a calm, engaging manner that even my five year old niece (who hates doctors) loves to go and visit him 🙂
As for you: You’re an expert. You know stuff that others don’t. So get that badge of yours and pin it up. Because the sooner you see yourself as an expert, the better. The title may not fit you (in your mind) but it will never fit unless you choose to wear it in the first place.
I can’t say that I agree with your opinion but I respect it.Thanks for a great blogg with lots of interesting posts.