I am an expert at learning from the experts. An expert is defined as a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area. I’ve come across a lot of self-proclaimed experts in my career, but the ones that have stood out have taught me how to sharpen my expertise in any aspect of life.

Is it better to know a little about a lot, or a lot about a little? When it comes to your career, you ideally know a lot about a lot. Some people get by knowing enough about enough. I have also seen people become very successful knowing a little about their boss, but that is called blackmail. I digress.   

Being an expert at your craft will help you become tremendously effective and efficient in your day to day. Having said that, there is nothing worse than a blowhard that talks endlessly about the ins and outs of every topic (like this blog…). Having all the answers but knowing when to share them in an impactful way is an art form that if used properly, can set you apart from the pack.

The Banana King

“There is no problem you can’t solve if you understand your business A-Z.”

Sam Zemurray (The Banana King)

I recently read a book called The Fish that Ate the Whale. It’s the story of a man named Sam Zemurray who was known as the Banana King in the early 1900’s. 

Bananas were not widely distributed in the United States at the time and were considered an exotic fruit. Zemurray, a Russian immigrant who had to dig himself out of poverty, came across his first banana at age 17. He was fascinated by this very popular but not well-known delicacy. He spent a lot of time researching the banana trade. Sitting and observing the ships come in with loads of the fruit, he noticed a gap in the number of wasted bananas, that if corrected, could lead to a large profit. 

He developed a system of delivering bananas that were usually discarded because they were days away from being over-ripe. He sold to local merchants by rail and took advantage of what was once wasted product. His passion and innovation changed the game forever making Zemurray the biggest name in the fruit trade, and one of the richest people in the United States. He was an expert in his field and prided himself on knowing every aspect of his business. 

A big part of his Zemurray’s success was due to getting his hands dirty and fully immersing himself in the world of bananas. He spent much of his time in the fields of Honduras where he had a small house and worked day and night producing the finest product on the market. He outsmarted massive corporations by understanding every little detail of his business, with no regard for anyone’s…peelings…sorry.

Developing an Expert Mind

Knowledge is accessible to anyone with enough drive to seek it out. Some people are born with magnetic charm, or photographic memory making their career path much smoother. But with enough dedication, anyone can become an expert in their field. I am no expert, but I strive to improve each day and look to sharpen my expertise whenever I can. Here are some areas I focus on:

Listening

People who are true masters of their crafts are often great listeners and observers of their surroundings. They understand that what their co-workers or clients are saying is loaded with information. Not only in their actual words, but how they are saying it can be just as important. Be engaging in conversations and ask questions. 

People usually love to hear themselves talk, and if you give them just a little freedom to do so, they may surprise you with an important bit of information.

Read

The internet is pretty darn great. Details that used take hours to find at a library are seconds away with a push of a button. Reading daily trades or magazines about the topic you wish to learn about can help you familiarize yourself with terminology and ideas that are common in that arena. 

There are also books about every topic under the sun. Look up top books in your profession and mix one of those titles into your reading list. Staying abreast of what the titans in your field are talking about is important when conversing with a client or leader on your team. 

Find a Mentor

Know that any mistake you can possibly make has already been made by someone else. Mentors can provide insight into what has worked and what does not. They can also give a different perspective on topics you think you already know about. Learning from people we trust is one of the most effective ways to get ahead.

Know the Details

Being able to pitch your business, or any topic for that matter, in the time it takes to ride in an elevator is important. People are busy and have short attention spans, so providing the broad strokes that paint the big picture will come in handy for most conversations. But a great way to stand out is to be the one that never needs to double check when asked a question. Be a library of knowledge and a “go to” for your coworkers and clients. You will become indispensable. 

Discover Your Weaknesses

Taking inventory of your strengths and weaknesses allows you to see where you should focus your efforts. But in order for this to work, you need to be honest (no one else needs to know) and you need to act on improving.   

Network

This is an expansion of finding a mentor. Networking is basically finding tons of mini-mentors that can give you perspective and expand your horizons. I discuss the importance of networking in a related article here. You never know what gems of knowledge you will encounter by speaking with people in your industry. 

If you never stop being open to learning, you will develop the confidence and skills to solve any problem that comes your way.