Are you currently an expert at something? Have you ever thought of trying to help other people? Let’s say that you want to help people but you aren’t sure if you’re qualified so you think that you need to be an expert in order to provide value to people. What does being an expert even mean? How do you become an expert? If you read books about a subject, does that make you an expert? If you conduct research, write articles, and read articles on the internet, how about then? If you are not currently an expert, how can you become one? How does someone gain enough experience in whatever topic they choose?
Even if you are not an expert now, you can learn more by actually doing or being involved in your niche. Barring that, the next best thing is to read books about your subject. As soon as you have a little bit of knowledge in your brain, the next step is to solidify that information, which is done by writing about it, teaching other people, or refreshing the information in your brain. Play with the thoughts in your brain until it sinks in.
Reading books, going to school, researching, and having a degree may tell someone about the technical aspects, but without experience, would you still be considered an expert? How can you tell if the experience you have already experienced counts? Does it only count when you have results? How can you be an expert unless you actually live and breathe it every day? There are many people that are experienced because they have failed firsthand at it, where others only read about it and are limited to knowledge from other sources. The most they have are case studies and text books, but can’t cut to the deeper heart of the matter because they lack solid experience. This is the difference between what they call “street smarts” and “book-smart.” Someone who has first-hand experience is more likely to be a real expert, even if they don’t have a degree.
For most subjects, true expertise takes years to develop. Reading can help increase your knowledge in the subject, but you are required to put that knowledge to good use in your daily life. You have to test for yourself whether or not those textbooks were correct. And sometimes this takes years in order to accomplish. Being an expert has been devalued a bit, as some people think that reading a few articles makes them into an authority. Although it has increased their knowledge, it means nothing unless you can apply it to your life.
Of course, just because you aren’t considered an expert, does that mean that your knowledge and input are not valid? The question is “Do I have to be an expert to provide value?” Although not technically defined as an expert, can you still be helpful to those that know less than you? The answer is yes. Although being an expert is helpful, it is not required in order for you to provide value to other people.