Not that long ago one of the traits listed on every job application was the skill to multi-task. Multi-tasking is proving to be less efficient and thus employers and customers are looking for experts in their field.
Everyone is an expert in something. The dictionary describes an expert as “a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.”
Each of you has experiences where you have learned a few things in life and in your jobs. The knowledge you have is what people often need. Experts are regular people like you and me who share a passion with people looking for the information you have. Experts know their stuff. They have vast knowledge and be relied on to provide accurate, insightful answers. The best way to become and remain an expert is to continue learning.
In business, we all have competitors, competitors who sell the same or similar products/services. The key is to evaluate the strengths of the company and determine what your greatest strength is. For example, recently I met a business owner who realized after trying a variety of sales jobs that he really wanted to help people and got into the insurance industry. Of all the services he offers his passion is with Life Insurance to ensure that the families are taken care off. Listening to him share his story, all of us wanted to have him service our needs because he has become an expert in his field.
An Inc.com article stated: “No one–no matter how talented and intelligent–starts out as an expert…. even after years of experience, they still make mistakes and experience failure like the rest of us.”
How do we become Experts?
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- Practice makes Perfect
Malcolm Gladwell, the author of Outliers and many other bestselling non-fiction books, suggests it takes 10,000 hours of practice to become an expert. Working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks it will take you 5 years to hit the 10,000-hour mark. There is no substitution for time.
I think of Thomas Edison who had 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. Edison’s had a positive attitude and saw each failure as a step to success, he learned from each attempt.
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- We learn more from being wrong
Experience is trial and error. Embrace your failures and mistakes because they could be what lead you to your greatest discovery… learn from mistakes and do not repeat them.
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- Network with leaders in your field
Become a sponge. Spend time with other experts in your field, ask them questions, observe them at work and listen as they share their insights.
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- Uncertainty reminds us to be humble.
Many industry leaders feel that they do not know what they are doing. The key is to make smarter decisions. Experts are constantly seeking knowledge and answers.
One of the defining characteristics of a true influencer/leader is the ability to admit that you do not know everything. Uncertainty drives us to explore an discover. Do not be afraid to ask questions and push boundaries.
I am reading the book “Creativity, Inc” by Ed Catmull who is the creator of Pixar, he talks about partnering with Steve Jobs (Apple Inc) and how they had no idea what they were doing when they partnered to try and launch the Pixar brand.
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- Never stop learning.
Ultimately every person has the potential to become an expert. Never stop learning and growing.
Freely sharing your knowledge/expertise even if it means sending customers to the competition is what helps to create loyal customers will continue to come to you over and over again as well as refer your company to others.
By: Cheryl Viola , Executive Director