Everyone knows a little bit about a lot of things, and we all know a lot about a few things. If you were to take your “few things” and learn even more about them, you can truly become an expert in your field.
Have you ever read a “how to” book and thought “I could have written this myself” because you already knew so much of the content? That book was written by someone just like you but who had the nerve to think of themselves as an expert.
There are almost unlimited opportunities awaiting anyone who desires to become an expert in his or her field. It just takes some preparation, a bit of imagination and a little effort to get started. Here are some tips to help establish yourself as an expert:
- Realize that what you already know is valuable to others. Many times we believe that if we know something, everybody else must already know it too. What you know about cooking, gardening, website design, crafting or whatever your interests are may be second nature to you, but others who want to learn about those things may find them hard to figure out. Sometimes it’s the minor things we know that others would never think about. All the little “tricks of the trade” so to speak.
- Research your topic to find more information in order to broaden your knowledge. Scour the Internet and your public library’s reference section to get all the information you can on your desired subject.
- Generate visibility and publicity. Volunteer your services to groups in your community. For example, if your expertise is in the area of crafts, you could volunteer to be a guest speaker at various club meetings, presenting general information, or giving a demonstration on how to make something. This helps your face and name to become known, which will bring additional opportunities for you as well as increasing profits for your business.
- Share your knowledge with others. All the information in the world is of no value if it isn’t shared with other people. Be generous with what you know. Realize that by investing your time and talents now, you will reap the financial rewards and recognition later. Fall in love with your subject and share your passion, it’s contagious!
- Write a pamphlet, tip sheet or booklet about your subject. Take a piece of paper and make a list of important thoughts and ideas relevant to your subject. Don’t worry about complete sentences right now, just phrases and thoughts. After writing down all the important points, lay the list aside for a day or so, then come back to it and add any additional thoughts you may have later.
Once you have the basics on paper, the next step is to organize those thoughts and ideas into categories. For example, you may need categories for “supplies needed” and “getting started”. Arrange your categories into a sequence from beginning to end where the whole process is complete. Finally, turn your ideas and thoughts into complete sentences and paragraphs and your pamphlet is written!
Use your pamphlet or booklet as a handout to increase public awareness about your business, or you could consider marketing your booklet for sale. Success in your area of expertise is yours for the taking. Begin today to establish yourself as an expert in your field!