being an expert – client k

The Quiet Signs Of Expertise

I met someone lately
who had very rough hands
and short fingernails.

I asked her
if she was a gardener.

She was surprised
I knew that.

Most dedicated gardeners
I know
have very rough hands
and short fingernails.
Those are signs
of dedication
to that role.

A food lover buddy
tells me
when he sees an immaculate home kitchen
with worn and/or stained
kitchen towels,
he knows someone in that home
loves to cook or bake.

There are often
quiet signs of expertise.

Know them.
Look for them.
Don’t be ashamed
if you sport them.

If You Don’t Know…

A writer asked me publicly
if there was a market
for a certain type of story
in my specific niche.

They looked to me
as an expert.

I didn’t know
if there was a market
so I said…
Exactly that.
“I don’t know.”

Some commenters mocked me.
Some questioned my expertise.

They’re dumba$$es.
I ignored them.

Because no one,
including experts,
knows everything about their field.

No one
has all the answers.

Making sh*t up
to appease the dumba$$es
makes us look like idiots
to knowledgeable people
and erodes our stances
as experts in our own fields.

Say “I don’t know”
if you don’t know.

I’m Listening And Learning

It is human nature
to want to be part
of a conversation.

Yet it is extremely difficult
to contribute
to a conversation
we have no expertise in.

If we have some knowledge
of the topic
we can ask questions
but sometimes
we don’t have
the knowledge to do that.

Often, people bullsh*t
in that situation.
They pretend to have
expertise on the topic
and bungle around,
often detracting from
and harming
the conversation.

I prefer to say
something along the lines
of
“I’m listening
and learning.”

That satisfies the urge
to contribute
and it encourages the conversation.

Listeners DO
contribute to conversations.
When in doubt,
be one.