You know what you know.
You’ve spent the better part of your adult life learning and sharpening your skills. Time, talent and energy invested bring you to where you are today. Why is it then, you are so reluctant to claim it?
Expert Defined: A person with special knowledge or ability who performs skillfully
That’s you. That’s me. You’re an expert at what you do; what you know. You bring your special style and flavor along with your knowledge, experience and skill. It’s time to quit hiding. Being modest and doesn’t mean denying who you are and what you know.
As Kid Rock says: ”It’s aint’ braggin’ m*therf*cker if you back it up.”
I know you can back it up and then some!
You downplay your expertise. Sometimes out of modesty, but sometimes because you don’t want to draw the line in the sand, take a stand and say “This is who I am, what I’m good at and why you should care.
The why you should care, is the most important part (of course) but you have to be clear about the who and the what if you want anyone else to care about the why.
One final distinction:
Being an expert doesn’t mean you know every single last thing there is to know in your field. It doesn’t mean that you are the worlds best or most qualified person in your area of expertise. Skills and knowledge and abilities are not absolutes. There is no zero sum game to win.
Another’s expert-ness can’t diminish yours.
You know what you know. You’re good at what you do and what you have to offer has value. It’s time you let us all know!
I’ll start. I’m the sales chick. I love sales and selling. All of it makes me happy. The strategy, and of course the tactical “doing” part. I’m good at it and I know how to teach others to be good at it too. Making a sale is great. Landing a new client who is thrilled = awesome. Know what’s even better? Having someone who thought they couldn’t sell, learn to do it and get the awesome feeling that comes from making a difference, doing what you love.
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.
We are all meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
Marianne Williamson from her book A Return To Love: Reflections On The Principles of “A Course In Miracles”
It’s Your Turn Now! Time to claim your expert-ness in the comments!
Kid Rock lyrics from the song Cocky.
I’m an expert at helping people figure out what the important stuff is, finding the time to do it and keeping them distracted from the not-important stuff.
I have to keep reminding myself that being an expert just means that there are people I can help who don’t know what I know. There will always be people like that. It doesn’t matter how many people know *more* than I know.
Claire,
You are so right – there are people who don’t know what you know, but would like to learn! Learning to to focus on the important and minimizing distractions – powerful for us all!