It Takes Less Than 10,000 Hours To Be Perceived An Expert

Paul, in my experience, it takes to a smart people an afternoon to be perceived as an expert. This is particularly devastating when you meet the person just once for a few hours and you shape in your mind the idea he’s some kind of genius in his field. Good thing places like the interwebz can help us clearing our mind out with some much needed research.

Paul, in my experience, it takes to a smart people an afternoon to be perceived as an expert. This is particularly devastating when you meet the person just once for a few hours and you shape in your mind the idea he’s some kind of genius in his field. Good thing places like the interwebz can help us clearing our mind out with some much needed research.

Paul,
I’ve been wracking my brain trying to recall if I’ve ever berated a woman in a LinkedIn group, and haven’t come up with anything so hopefully I’m not your example:-) On the flip side, if I am and don’t realize it, please let me know because I must have been off my meds that day!

I agree that the worst possible thing to happen is that you are an expert in your field and you don’t demonstrate it. In the transparency of social media, you can’t just pay lip service to your abilities, you have to practice what you preach and demonstrate your knowledge as well.

The great part about social media is that you can be an expert in a topic without having the academic and career pedigree – we learned that lesson in Good Will Hunting – and finally get recognized for it.  The ability to demonstrate expertise that isn’t on the resume when you are trying to make a career change, is one of the biggest advantages of social media for jobseekers.

My own story is a testament to it. I grew up working in a family business and I recall thoughts and ideas that I had to help my mom grow the business, but I had no basis for that knowledge and understanding. I had no interest in going into business, so I never took a college course on the subject. Yet, when I got into the workforce, the people I was working with quickly recognized the ability and would come to me for guidance and ideas. Even though none of my jobs were specifically marketing, I was always pulled onto marketing tasks and projects. By the time I realized I was interested in actually working in marketing it was too late – I couldn’t get a job in a marketing department to save my life because my skills were not immediately evident on my resume even though I would highlight the specific projects I worked on. No marketing degree – you’re out. No job title with the word “marketing” in it – you’re out.

Then social media came along. It was so new there weren’t any schools and the early “experts” would have to have that expertise only through practical application. Finally a level playing field AND a built in platform to share the expertise.  Of course, by that time, I wasn’t interested in working for anyone else! It was also a perfect, inexpensive means to get my business off the ground.

If you’re an expert in your field and you’re not showing it or showing up, then you are going to quickly lose market share and credibility to those you may not consider your equals – let alone your superiors – because the proof really is in the pudding!

Thanks for the great article!

Very true Gabriele. I do think that many are easily fooled by the fact that they just continually show up. Meanwhile, they lack the substance.

How cool would it be for someone with true expertise to continually show up and let their expertise be known?

Thanks Gabriele! 

From my personal experience, the most skilled people tend to be very modest. I guess modesty (if not exaggerated) is a distinctive sign of a smart, agile mind. Do you agree?

I tend to favor people like that Gabriele.

No Crystal it wasn’t you. As a matter of fact, I denied this person membership to my Linkedin group and gave them a piece of my mind long before this blog post was written. 

Thanks for stopping by!

Paul, you are so, so right! Thanks for the continued support and advise.

Excellent food for thought, and I think the choice is obvious. Thanks again Paul for another enlightening post.

Thanks Jay!

Thanks Adam!

Great post as always. You continue to inspire me Master Yoda!

Great post as always. You continue to inspire me Master Yoda!

Great Post! Too many “experts” and not enough just “showing up” I have learned that with my own business. I haven’t been “showing up” when I have the experience. “Expert” is relative, grass roots experience is what counts.

Well said Lana!

Thanks for stopping by and have an awesome weekend!

“Showing up” – once; “Showing Up” – Twice; “Showing Up” - Three Times; “”Continually Showing Up”. Great emphasis in this post Paul!
 
The funny thing is it still does not register with everyone. Showing up when you feel like it is not an option in an ultra competitive business climate. When people look at their business, what will the incremental increase in results be if they just start showing up 10% more than before, then push it to 20% and so on and so on? Love the post thanks as always!  

Great points Tim! 

Thank you for always making the time to “show up” here my friend!