Are You an Expert?
I was reading a very interesting article from Hotjob.lk that promoted the idea that every year, you should choose a topic to focus on and then do everything possible to become an expert on that topic. That sounds like it makes a lot of sense. Plus, I like to read and research and all that other sort of education-based, geeky stuff, so I think I’m in. Here’s why I think this could work for me and my career:
- Provides focus. Every day my email box, news feed, etc. are flooded with articles, reports, infographics, white papers and more on things are relatively interesting, but I don’t have time to read them all. By picking a specific topic I will allow myself to read the information that matches my area of focus. It’s a relief. There is a lot of information overload on a daily basis.
- Fuels the love of learning. As I mentioned, I like reading and researching areas of interest. This gives me a reason to take time out of my day to do something I enjoy and will be valuable. For those of you that may consider this type of learning a burden, make sure to pick a topic that you truly enjoy; hopefully that will make it bearable.
- Makes you sound smart. When you know a thing or two about something, people start to listen. Plus, if you share your knowledge in a helpful, non-threatening way people may begin to consider you the “go-to” person on your topic. That could be kind of cool.
- Opens doors to potential opportunities. By expanding your expertise, you may find yourself looking for new projects that match your new knowledge; or those projects may come looking for you. Don’t keep your new smarts to yourself.
Now comes the hard part; choosing the right topic! What area would you like to become an expert? Let us know in the comments!