How to Become an Expert on Anything
According to Webster’s Dictionary: ex-pert n 1. somebody with a great deal of knowledge about, or skill, training, or experience in, a particular field or activity.
Let’s break this down a bit further, word-by-word, using Mr. Webster, again:
(1) somebody: some unspecified person
(2) great deal: a large amount
(3) knowledge: general awareness or possession of information
(4) skill: the ability to do something
(5) training: the process of teaching or learning a skill or job
(6) experience: active involvement in an activity or exposure to events or people
(7) particular: related to one person or thing out of several
(8) field: an activity or subject or interest
(9) activity: something that somebody takes part in or does
So, now we have a foundation to build upon in an attempt to discover exactly
who or what, is an expert. Here’s the simplified re-definition:
“Some unspecified person with a large amount of general awareness about, or
ability, or teaching, or learning, or active involvement, in one thing of interest or
subject that they have taken part in or does.”
Do you know anyone this might apply to? The qualifications are fairly broad and
therefore you could nominate a few people you already come in contact with almost
daily:
(1) any department or grocery store clerk or bagger
(2) the mailman or package delivery person
(3) the lawn man, housekeeper, or pool guy
(4) every service provider, i.e., the beautician, the pet groomer.
(5) every repair person
(6) every student or teacher
(7) every mother, father, or child
If we haven’t covered everyone yet, let’s throw in anyone breathing and just semi-
comatose. That’s probably why I consider myself an expert on any subject ever
written. If you don’t believe me, just ask. Any questions?
Jeffrey Hauser was a sales consultant for the Bell System Yellow Pages for
nearly 25 years. He graduated from Pratt Institute with a BFA in Advertising
and has a Master’s Degree from Monmouth University. He had his own
advertising agency in Scottsdale, Arizona and ran a consulting and design
firm, ABC Advertising. He has authored 6 books and a novel, “Pursuit of the
Phoenix,” available at amazon.com. His latest book is, “Inside the Yellow
Pages.” Currently, he is the Marketing Director for http://www.thenurseschoice.com,
a Health Information and Doctor Referral site.
