You Can’t Be an Expert in Everything
My work the last 15 years in Job Search Strategy Coaching, has allowed me the privilege of working with hundreds of clients. Those clients have covered a vast range of ages, (from their 20’s to their 70’s in age), and industries and roles in which they have worked. Sometimes I may be familiar with the work that they do from my past experiences, or even from working with past clients. Other times, I may have little familiarity with their profession and the details of their work. (That is when I am so grateful for the ability to be able to research things on Google). However, what my journey as a coach has taught me comes down to one truth that I look not only to use in my work life, but even in my life outside my profession. That message is, “You Can’t Be an Expert in Everything, so when you need to get involved with something that provides a particular experience, Seek Out an Expert.”
When I first met my wife 18 years ago, many of her nieces and nephews were in their teen years. Move forward during the time of our marriage, and who has grown up to be a professional musician, who is a sports writer for a major New York City newspaper, who is a doctor of neonatology, and who is a professional nurse, (and note, there are several others, as my wife comes from a large family). When one of my recent clients was exploring how to supplement his income as a musician, to become more independent and live on his own, as opposed to with his parents, I connected him with my nephew the professional musician for first hand advice. When the nurse became the mother of a beautiful baby girl a short time ago, after having worked with children in the hospital as part of her nursing duties, I was calm in knowing she would know how to care for her first child who was born 3 weeks prematurely. I enjoy having conversations with all of them, in learning about their careers, and the things they can share with me about the specifics of the profession, that I might not know on my own.
This even carries into my personal life. When you work in business for yourself, as opposed to when you may work at a larger company, your fellow network of professionals, tends to become other individuals in business for themselves. Some you may meet in business networking meetings for entrepreneurs. Others you may meet as you have the need for a particular service or skill set. At one time having a robust “rolodex,” was where you had your list of “go-to professionals.” Move that into the world of 2025, and the replacement for that is a Linked in profile, where you not only connect to other professionals directly, but are connected in turn to their network of professionals, who become your 2nd or 3rd connections from them. Such individuals, may be the ones you need in helping to solve a problem which you need addressed in your life.
All of us have talents that can help others. In my case, it is the ability to listen, guide and help those in search for their next opportunity. Even within my profession, while I tend to have a broad set of skills in relation to my job search strategy coaching, (resume development, interview preparation, verbal pitch communication), there are others in my field, that I know are go-to people for my own clients, if they specialize in one aspect of the job search process, or one specific sector of professionals. As such, I am not reluctant to connect my clients with others, that I feel may be able to address their needs better, if I am not the best professional to do so.
Therefore, take the time to identify your talents and specialties. Learn how to communicate them as to the specific challenges and issues that you love to solve for others. And, from there go forward and realize it is fine that you do not do every specific thing that those you serve may seek, but be the go-to person for the things that you do better than most.
