Expert by Choice or Default
In the dog world, there are breeds that excel in certain sports over others. Some of it is instinct, some of it is breeding, and other times it is specific training or a combination of any or all of these. They guide their owners or their owners guide them to what really peaks their interest and they have fun at it enjoy. The same can be said of your business.
In my corporate days, I became very knowledgeable in construction loans and Canadian businesses operating in the United States. This was primarily because of my interests and I researched and read up on both. I enjoyed both aspects of commercial lending. A few times a referral source asked me to review a client’s franchise needs. I literally had zero interest in that type of structure and we had an ‘expert’ on the team out of a close by city I referred them to. The same happened with children’s daycares, just not by expertise.
I found throughout my careers that a true interest or passion for certain expertise always provided more inspiration for me. When approaching those area that peaked my interest, I was a better business executive. I also referred and still do most start-ups seeking help to the local SBDC. They are free and have the best operational guide for helping US businesses get off the ground, in my opinion. It is not that I couldn’t assist them, it just doesn’t provide the best use of my particular expertise.
When you review your business products or services, make sure any expertise or pattern arising is one that you can positively embrace with excitement. Some expertise is by design and others just happen through word of mouth or positive experiences in the same industry with your services or products. We all succeed more when we are happy, interested, and excited about the job we are doing. We really are no different from dogs competing out in the field in the sport of their choice or their owner’s.
Whether your business has developed a conscious expertise or one that appeared without specific design, take your cue from the dog world on this one. A tail wagging experience is the right one. A disinterest in your upcoming meeting tells you it may be time to rethink the experience. Be the expert you want to be not the one someone is pulling your leash to become.
Be well.
