Tweet

The Danger of Knowing

Guest post by: Rebel Brown

Article Overview: The problem with being an expert is that in some cases you don't know what you don't know. You get so good at one area that you assume you can apply what you know to another similar area. Uh oh.

The Danger of Knowing

Knowledge and expertise are things we all seek. Whether it's in our area of business, our golf game, a musical instrument, cooking, cleaning, raising kids...whatever our passion, we strive for excellence and expertise.

Sometimes that expertise stops us cold.

The problem with being an expert is that in some cases you don't know what you don't know. You get so good at one area that you assume you can apply what you know to another similar area. Uh oh.

Take for example the western horsewoman who decides to ride an English dressage horse. Some things are the same - there's a horse and a saddle...oops, the saddle is different. Still there's a horse and riding is riding right? Not really. There is some overlap, and an expert rider will learn more quickly than a novice...but there is learning to be done. Most importantly - not everything the western rider knows will apply to the English style horse. And vice versa.

Or take the expert in high tech software development who decides to open his or her own small software shop. All that technical expertise will help, but it won't be enough. That software expert has to have an open mind, to be ready to learn as a newbie, not just charge on as an expert in product development. There is, after all, a business to run. And now matter how much you know about managing a software product to the market - it doesn't cover what you need to know about running the business.

Sometimes we're applying our expertise to something really similar...say our software expert is focusing on services as a business. That expert knows a lot about their customers, their requirements, the market at large. But they don't know anything about delivering services. If that expert applies his or her knowledge of software to a services business and follows the same patterns as in developing software...success is doubtful.

Why? Because required expertise changes with each situation.

We may be an expert today, but tomorrow we'll need to know more - even if we're in our same field of experience. If we're shifting even slightly in scope or focus - then we are no longer experts. Yes, we may have knowledge to leverage, but we also need new inputs to create success.

In our fast moving economy, I would submit that no expertise is long lasting. Things change too quickly for anyone to know it all for very long. That's why I'm so adamant about getting outside of our businesses and knowns...even as experts.

A real expert understands one fundamental truth. The more we know, the more we need to learn.

Related Articles
  OVERCOMING STRESS
  Ready, Set . . . GOALS!
  Tha Damage Of Goals
  Don't you just love a little mischief?
  What makes your values so special what did you say they were again
  Now Hear This - Happy Customers = Evangelists
  Danger Signs ( And Solutions!) For Canadian Working Capital Financing . Real World Cash Flow Solutions
  LEADERSHIP MEANS REALISING TRUE POTENTIALS
  Unleash Your Manifestative Powers
  5 Dangers of Financing Equipment - From Technology to Machinery - Avoid These Mistakes With your finance company or leasing firm.
  Driving Smart: A Guide for Parents and Teens
  Common Sense and Success
  Eating Healthy Can Save Your Life and Money
  Key Management Insights - Making Your Decisions Count
  How to Write Better and Faster -- And Have More Fun Doing It!
  Dangers in Social Media for Those with ADHD
  Do You Really Want Fixed Income Investing?
  What makes a word a seed
  How To Write The Ideal Press Release…
  Strong SEO means style AND substance

Article Tags: business strategy, knowing, real expert



Related Forum Posts
Re: How do you maximize your time at business/networking events? - Hy Kevin. I think everyone is focused on those persons who can help business to grow but i consider it necessary to constantly meet new people and make new connections. Knowing more people, means more exposure for your business and you never know when you will need their services.
Affiilate Products - Knowing what you are trying to sell would be helpful. What sort of promotion have you tried -- in detail? I wouldn't jump into a big expensive ad. If the things you are doing isn't working on a smaller scale, they probably won't work on a big high dollar scale either. Why not give us your website address and we can take a look. There is plenty of money to be made in affiliate marketing, but it takes time, it takes trial and error and you have to evaluate what you're doing and make the needed changes to have an effective program. Shri
Re: Does it help to join business groups? - Different groups can have a very different feel to them, so it's good to try out several. I was in a lunch group for a while that was very formal, and a bit expensive as you had to purchase the event ticket and the lunch. It was a small group, and they knew each other well. They were nice people, but there was really no opportunity for us to help each other -- more of a social thing really. I've also done chamber of commerce, or women's entrepreneur events. I always have a good time, but I haven't found many business leads that way -- most of the newer entrepreneurs often don't have the financial resources to hire others (at first anyway). I did get one big job back when I was a freelance writer from one of these events, however. I've met more clients through regular socializing surprisingly! Knowing a person through friends can make others feel more comfortable it seems.
Re: Best Internet Marketing Strategies - [quote="christew":latsmlgi]Plus a niche is not a bunch of keywords, it is a demographic interested in a particular topic. You need to learn about the people in this demographic. Keyword research tells you their search habits and gives clues to competitiveness and potential profit, but you are looking at through a very narrow window of a much bigger picture.[/quote:latsmlgi] Good point. Knowing about both the group and the keywords they tend to use is of course the best combination, but if you thoroughly understand your niche market and your products, the content you write for your website and the articles you post elsewhere will almost certainly include natural "keyword phrases" even if you don't research the keywords - and if your niche is tightly defined, that will probably suffice. I am not saying you should ignore keyword research, but knowing your products and market is more important.
Starting a New Business - Congratulations on the first step of deciding to create your own business. First, you have to ascertain if you are going to be selling your products or services to people or to businesses. People purchase products and services for three basic reasons: •To satisfy basic needs •To solve problems •To make themselves feel good. You have to determine which of these three categories your product or service is the solution to. Businesses, unlike individuals, buy products and services for three reasons as well: •To increase revenues •To maintain the status quo •To decrease expenses. Knowing the reasons why people/businesses buy, you should have a picture emerging of who you think your "Target Market" (or ideal customer) is. Once you have zeroed in on your solution, you are ready to create your Marketing Strategy. If you look at any company that has grown rapidly over the past few years, (i.e. WestJet and Starbucks), it should demonstrate to you the importance of Marketing. In simple terms these companies have: •Clearly defined what makes them different; •Who their ideal customer is; •How to reach them; •Why customers should buy from them; •And most importantly why customers should come back again. It is strong Marketing Awareness that singles out the best companies. I can not stress enough how important it is to create a "living" Marketing Plan before you even start. I hope this helps a little in the creation of your plan. All the very best of luck. Remember: "A Goal without a Plan is just a Wish" Miles of Smiles, Marketing Maven


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

What Is The Foundation for Your Vision?

How to Conduct a B2B Marketing Content Audit

Good News Travels Fast

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.