Ex-pert [n., v., adj. ek-spurt, ik-spurt] Possessing special skill or knowledge; trained by practice; skillful or skilled.
I am a marketing communications expert. I have a degree and decades of experience to prove it. And clients who pay me for said expertise.
The trouble with being a so-called ”expert” in something is that there are other “exes” that go along with it: exactness, expectations (and being expected to exceed expectations), excellence, exclusion (of new ideas and learning), and occasional extortion (by clients and by my own self!).
Not to mention the excruciating and exhausting excess of exemplary exhibits of exertion. Whew!
I have made a recent discovery. This “being an expert” in something has stifled me. I am, flat-out, stuck stuck stuck in my own marketing communications for my own business. There, I said it. That is pretty darned risky to do, right here on the Internet (in front of God and Google and everyone).
I know, I know, “the cobbler’s kids have no shoes,” as the old cliche goes. But really, I have felt ridiculous about this stuckness. And have been closeted and fighting to extricate myself and my true voice (a nod to Laura!).
No more! Today I am risking saying my truth out loud. I am giving up the fight and opening up to a new way. I can see that the way to un-stick myself is to extinguish (maybe even expectorate!) all of my expired rules about marketing. To extinguish the chains that are binding me up, threatening me to extinction! (Okay, a tad melodramatic, but I’m running out of “ex” words…)
I don’t yet know how this will play out, exactly, but I am proclaiming it here. Stay tuned, you never know what will transpire.
I’m excited!
Martha Carnahan coaches entrepreneurs, leaders and marketers in the professional services world. She has noticed that taking risks, whether bold and scary or seemingly small (and easy to avoid) creates a fresh awareness of the joy, audacity and quiet reverence of a full-spectrum life. Its not just about doing more stuff its about hanging out more in the sweet spot of life. Visit Martha's website.
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Excellent post, Martha! I’m excited for you!
Hey, Martha – Thank you so much for sharing this. Not only that you are exacerbatingly stuck, but also that you have had the courage to excavate and examine, and them exclaim exactly where you are! I’d say that’s being you out loud! Love it! Laura
You are exceptionally excellent at excelling whether as an expert in “whatever” or and ex-expert in whatever you choose. What in heavens does that mean? I’m not really sure but I am sure that I love you and know you’ll find the way – your way and it will be excellent!
This sure seems to be the time for existential angst about our businesses. Maybe it’s the phase of the moon, or maybe, it is the New Year, an artificial construct that seems to make us both excited and crazy.
The one thing I didn’t understand was when you wrote the being an expert meant the “exclusion (of new ideas and learning)”. As technology changes, people change, and marketing is all about people. The whole world is changing at an unprecedented rate. You do have to incorporate new ideas and approaches and methods.
I looked at your website. Impressive. You offer tremendous value for your clients. Maybe you go through your website as though you were a perspective client – as if you were going to hire your company. You might come away with some a new insight.
You’ll find the answer to this. Get someone to help. Sometimes non-experts can bring a fresh perspective. Ask for help from someone in your field. Maybe find a short term mentor. Check out some of the resources at SCORE.
And have some fun. Mary Ann was right in one of her earlier blogs about taking time for play.
You can do this.
P.S. You’re right about the cobbler’s children having no shoes. I’m still struggling with my website and learning how to play again. But I’ll get there. I think you will, too.
I am still friends with 2 of my exes and that’s a good thing! Thanks for putting into words, so excitedly I might add, in a way that is both powerful and hopeful. You will exceed!