Obliterating the cult of the expert
You can know everything there is to know about a subject, but without credibility, no one will listen to what you have to say.
Understanding that credibility in most fields is demonstrated through group affiliations, not IQ points, can help you present the truth in the best light, without fabricating it.
In the 4-Hour Workweek, Tim Ferriss breaks down how to become an expert in less than 4 weeks.
- Join 2-3 trade organizations with official sounding names.
- Read and summarize the three best books on your topic.
- Give one free seminar at your closest well-known university using the books you just read. Leverage this experience to get two more speaking gigs at branches of well-known companies. Tell the companies you've spoken at X university and are a part of some fancy sounding trade organizations. Emphasize it's free, explain you're looking to get additional speaking experience outside of academia, and that you won't be selling anything.
- Offer to write one or two articles for related trade magazines, citing everything you've accomplished so far. If they decline, offer to interview another expert instead.
- Join ProfNet, or any other service that helps reporters find experts to quote for articles, and start responding to journalist queries.
Reverse engineering expertise like this exposes what a sham credibility indicators are. This methodology was used by one of Tim's friends to become a "top relationship expert" in three weeks.
On the other hand, it's scary because it works. Said friend got featured in Glamour and other national media, and then began counseling executives at Fortune 500 companies.
The difference between being perceived as an expert and actually being one has all but dissipated.