PUSH YOURSELF TO BE THE AUTHORITY OF YOUR SUBJECT
Becoming an authority in your field requires disciplined learning, long-term commitment, and the determination to master every part of your craft.
If I were to ask you to name someone who is an authority in their field, who would come to mind? A quick survey might select Richard Branson as an authority in entrepreneurship due to all the businesses and ventures he’s launched and managed. In the hospitality arena, Horst Schulze must be on the list as the co-founder of Ritz-Carlton. Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist who has made complicated science relatable to millions through his books, lectures, and podcasts.
Each of these individuals is recognized as a leader in their field. For some of you reading this blog, being listed among these names is a dream, but you have no idea how to get there. You want to be an authority in your field, but you don’t even know what the first step is.
Choose Excellence Over a Ceiling
First, you must address your mindset. You have a serious choice to make, and it will impact each day for the rest of your life. Will you work hard enough to get a raise every year and be satisfied with that, or will you commit yourself to excellence, learn all you can about every area of the organization so you can either run the company or launch your own?
The instant you decide you’ll do great work for someone else and be happy with an annual raise, you’ve set a ceiling for yourself. Push yourself to be the authority. Ask your leader if you can learn about other areas. Companies love to see individuals who are hungry to learn and grow. If you are given that opportunity, don’t squander it. Learn about sales, fulfillment, billing, deposits, cash flow, P&Ls, customer satisfaction, marketing, and so on. Don’t be satisfied with just knowing one square on the chessboard. You must desire to be a master of the game.
Commit to Becoming an Authority in Your Field
Next, commit to the time. No one is seen as an authority in a short period of time. You’re in a lifelong marathon that doesn’t have a finish line. Become so knowledgeable about your product, industry, and process that people will say, “She’s forgotten more about this stuff than I’ll ever know.” The only way to be seen as that kind of expert is to be disciplined at the pursuit over a long period of time. Be comfortable with being a novice for the time being. Don’t present yourself as more than what you are. By investing in yourself over time, you’ll come to be seen as a voice of influence in your arena.
Share What You Know
Help others. You don’t want to be known as someone who is an expert but keeps all the wisdom to themselves. Bring people along with you. Make them better. Take what you know and pass it along. Answer questions. Don’t talk in generalities that people can interpret in four different ways. Be specific with your answers, and you’ll gain an audience that will return to you for guidance and wisdom.
Invest in Yourself
Finally, invest in yourself. Someone who invests in their own growth is unstoppable. Don’t wait for someone to believe in you. Believe in yourself. Read the books. Reach out to other experts and ask questions. Listen to podcasts and TED Talks. Inquire about other opportunities to learn and grow. Let your hunger to be more shine brightly. Push yourself to be the authority in your field.
Make this a standard for yourself and one day you’ll find yourself considered an expert and authority.
Creating Unparalleled Experiences,
CHRIS ADAMS
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