G.I. Joe was a major part of my childhood. It was the Christmas or birthday gift that was always perfect. The seemingly endless list of action figures and accessories led to unlimited good guy vs. bad guy scenarios. Few things were as enjoyable as disappearing into the imaginary world of combat with my G.I. Joe action figures. About the only time I stopped playing G.I. Joe was to watch the cartoon on TV. I came across an episode on TV recently, and it stopped me dead in my tracks. It had a hypnotic effect on me. And I heard a quote I hadn't heard in 35 years, yet it was like I had never stopped hearing it.
'Now you know, and knowing is half the battle.'
It is 2024. Knowing is more than half the battle; it is the entire battle. We live in the knowledge economy. No one holds a monopoly on insight. It is available to all. The information hierarchy has been flattened. So what does this mean? You need to use your devices rather than let your devices use you. It means you need to develop an expertise.
What is an expert? In The Death of Expertise, Tom Nichols defines an expert as someone whose knowledge can be trusted. I would add the following four categories as evidence of an expert:
1. An expert has earned degrees or certifications in a specific field. There’s a ridiculous debate on certain social media challenges that goes something like, ‘Just because you have a degree or certification doesn’t mean you are good at your job.’ Ridiculous. A degree or certification does not guarantee a person will do a good job, but it exponentially increases the likelihood.
2. An expert gets paid to do a job in their field of expertise. Information is valuable. Experience is more valuable. Information and experience together are expertise.
3. An expert gets invited to share their expertise with others. This is not always true, but experts don’t hide for long. Getting invited to share your expertise does not have to take the form of podcast invites and TED Talk appearances. It could be a colleague asking for advice, a Zoom call with a community of like-minded professionals, or a presentation your boss asks you to make. The more you know and do, the more people will be curious about your expertise.
4. An expert has been involved in their field for a significant amount of time. Accumulating significant knowledge and experience takes time. Eugene Peterson wrote a wonderful book with my favorite title: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction. That title sums up this aspect of expertise. Continuity is often underrated.
If multiple of those domains are true about you, you are well on your way to becoming an expert.
So what? Why does this matter?
No matter how you define it, becoming an expert doesn’t matter. But here are five things that matter, and when you pursue them in the context of the information age, it will lead you to become an expert in something.
Learning can never stop if want to live vibrantly. My father is in his 48th year as an educational leader. He reads extensively and takes detailed notes about what he is reading. He calls me and asks me what I’m learning. You know what else? My father has retained his vibrancy and passion for what he is doing. The moment you stop learning, you stop living well.
Growing and getting better requires new learning. ‘Well, Chris, I am always learning new things.’ Really? Are you? How? Real learning requires submission to a process. What’s your process? Real learning requires a long obedience in the same direction. What’s your direction? Real learning requires a demonstration of what has been learned. How are you demonstrating it?
The work no longer speaks for itself. In The Next Level, Scott Eblin noted the work no longer speaks for itself. The information age does not allow us just to show up. Things are changing too fast. Data is too readily available. You are either striving to be an expert in your field or being outpaced by those who are.
Misinformation needs to be corrected: C.S. Lewis once said, ‘There was a time when humans still knew pretty well when a thing was proved and when it was not, and it if was proved they really believed it.’ If only Mr. Lewis could see our current times. Every person with a device now has a platform and can use it to spread whatever information they see fit, even if it is wrong. And many people will believe it. We find ourselves in a dangerous society if the misinformation outpaces those with expertise. Falsehoods and misinformation, left unchecked, will lead us into a collision course with reality. To quote C.S. Lewis again, ‘You can’t expect to go against the grain of the universe and not get splinters.’
Humility is the fuel to expertise. Do you know what thin skin gets you? A thick skull. A sure sign of someone who has stopped learning is wondering why they must keep learning in the first place. Set your pride down and search for a new certification, degree, or cohort. St. Moses the Black said humility is the only area in which a person can outperform Satan. I’m willing to bet St. Moses was also an expert.
Now you know, my friends. And knowing is half the battle!
Bite Down and Don’t Let Go is a collection of writings on relentlessly leading yourself and others well. Read about it more here. You can listen to the Bite Down and Don't Let Go podcast here!
Dr. Chris Hobbs is an educational leader with more than two decades of experience. He’s earned a few degrees and won some awards. He’s happily married to his high school sweetheart, and they have three children. Life is messy and complicated most of the time. You can follow him on Twitter for inspirational thoughts and good laughs.
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