All too often I read people’s descriptions of themselves on any of a number of site about me columns,  and I see them calling themselves “an expert” in their particular field. It always brings a smile to my face, because I immediately  question the persons credibility. Personally, I think the term expert should be used sparingly, one needs to really evaluate, are they really  an “expert”. I mean I have seen people who have been in their field under 10 years touting themselves “an expert”. If you can’t point to 20, 30 years of experience, you are not an “expert” by any means, and quite frankly, referring to yourself as one, well proves the opposite.

Recently I had Kelly Lieberman on my radio show, The Social Studmuffin. Kelly is a whiz when it comes to utilizing and applyingPinterest, the visual content curation site. A few days before the show we talked and Kelly made it a point to let me know she didn’t feel comfortable being referred to as “an expert, or guru” or anything of the like. I immediately knew then and there that Kelly, and herknowledge of Pinterest were the real deal, she held the confidence in her knowledge of Pinterest to not need a self proclaiming title. That’s all, just solid knowledge of what she was talking about.

I have known very few experts in my life, I have known a ton of people who were extremely knowledgable in a particular field, but the difference between expert and knowledgable is like 10 football fields long. You need to be really knowledgable for a really long time to be considered an expert. My advice, be weary of anybody who proclaims themselves an expert in their field, if they feel the need to proclaim themselves such, they most likely aren’t. 

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Gettysburg Gerry is a Social Media Astronaut in the Gettysburg Adams County Pa area, exploring the limitless expanse of the Social Media Universe. He is owner and Principal for the firm Studmuffin Media. Gettysburg Gerry promotes all things Gettysburg, just google Gettysburg Gerry for more info. 


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88 Comments on Beware Calling Yourself an EXPERT

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

JAN
20
2012
307,503 Points 103 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Gerry: I love the idea that "I'm NOT an expert" has as much if not more validity than "I AM an expert!"---according to all the comments here! I would say that making an issue of the fact that "I am NOT saying I am an expert" and bragging about that ends up leaving me with the same feeling that someone leaves me with when they are pushing the idea that they ARE an expert... I suggest we all might be further ahead to leave the "expert" handle up to those who may want to call you, me or anyone else an expert!!!
12:43pm • #69
195,737 Points Outside Blog

It depends on what element you're an expert, doesn't it? You can be an expert on many things relating to real estate, yet not a comprehensive RE expert.

Lainie, #40 considers herself to be an expert in her marketing area and her conviction convinces me that she is, yet how would you challenge her without engaging her on her expertise? So, it depends on your definition of the word expert, so look up the definition in the dictionary and then determine if you could be an expert at anything.
1:29pm • #70
118,017 Points Outside Blog Hit Router

Yep, in my listing presentation I take copies of my past short sales in Corona and I explain that there are a lot of agents calling themselves experts. Ask for proof!
1:29pm • #71
181,393 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Good call.  I have the CDPE designation and hate the expert at the end.  Short sale rules, polices vary from lender to lender and from week to week.  How can anybody be an expert at that moving target. 
1:32pm • #72
166,347 Points 1 Featured Post Attended Rain Camp

Everyday I learn something new in this business!

There is no way possible that I will EVER Be an Expert!

I will however ALWAYS have an opinion based on the experiences I have had.  Joy
1:35pm • #73
Outside Blog

My comment is similar to #56.  I was told at a very young age that the term expert was a two part word.  X stands for the unknown and spert is a drip under pressure.  Therefore, an expert is an unknown drip under pressure!
2:01pm • #74

Who would call themselves an expert parent?  I don't care how many kids you have or how long you have been parenting...you will never be an expert.  There is always a new situation and constant changes.  Just like this business.  Oh yeah and whining....just like this business <grin>
2:22pm • #75
392,692 Points Outside Blog

If a length of time doesn't mean anything in a field that changes than why use the term anyway. If you aren't an expert after 20 years doing something then what are you. I might be wrong, and correct me if so, the writer of this post used Guru in their profile page. 

6:02pm • #76
1,023,520 Points 15 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I think it is a matter of symantics and then of course lawyers kill hte fun for everyone.  
10:54pm • #77
JAN
21
2012
621,410 Points 11 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Gerry I just don't think that you can be an Expert in something-That's just me. An Expert to me is somebody who knows a whooole lot of stuff. People should be careful the kind of names they give themselves. Should we blame CDPE for this? Besides CDPE does stand for Certified Distressed Property Expert:-). Great blog as usual my friend.
12:31am • #78
1 Featured Post Outside Blog

Time in Career does not give you an expert tag. It gives you just that, time. 
1:55am • #79
170,002 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

There should be greater awareness of this issues in the brokerage community.  There are too many agents holding themselves out as "short-sale experts" because they took a 15 hour course, "green development experts" because they know what Energy Star is, or "real estate experts" because they have a salesperson's license.  

In the legal profession, if an attorney holds themselves out as an expert in the field and they later find themselves under the scrutiny of a court, they will be judged based on a standard that they chose to set for themselves - i.e. did they perform as an "expert" in this field would have as opposed to just any other competent attorney.  
9:36am • #80
701,287 Points 39 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I think I'm an expert on my market area. I've got the posts to prove it too. Would I get on your show & say that I'm an expert in everything? No way. I'm a smart & humble braggard (if that's possible).

See & all the 'newbies' say that 'having the time' doesn't make you an expert either. Just because they don't have the time in their profession. Interesting .....

#34 - Dude! then you don't have experience in the times that were previous to the changes. Yes, short sales are always evolving. Why can't experts evolve with the times?  You are saying that people in the business over 20 years don't evolve - nonsense.  I'm not a dinosaur sitting on a park bench waiting for a new market to arrive!
11:58am • #81
292,852 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

We do see this advertised a lot, and it's very interesting when you see it. I have my CDPE designation for short sales, and have always been uncomfortable with the fact that it stands for Certified Distressed Property Expert, so when I tell people I switch expert out for Educator.
12:17pm • #82
497,610 Points 13 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hi Gerry, I agree!  In this business I am learning every day.  Hardly an expert!
7:17pm • #83
JAN
22
2012
159,298 Points 2 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

I would like to say I am an expert in the Charleston, WV real estate market, but only in comparision to the rest of you!

Experience usually shows that those that toot their own horn, rarely have anything to back it up.
1:33pm • #84
JAN
23
2012
1,928,681 Points 155 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I love it and I too have told people not to call me an expert in blogging, just someone who has had a lot of success and am willing to share what I have learned with them.

 
1:03am • #85
1 Featured Post

Some of the websites automatically call the agent an expert or professional as well.  It is not always the agent calling themselves this.
1:28pm • #86
186,325 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog

I have to agree that the term expert is overused but I respectfully disagree that to be considered an expert, you have to have been doing something for 20+ years. Like the saying goes, time heals all wounds. I don't believe that either. It's what you do in those years that heals. Just because someone has been in a certain field for 20+ years doesn't make them more of an expert than someone with less time. It depends on what they did in those years.
2:24pm • #87
MAY
25
330,867 Points Outside Blog

Gerry-good thoughts, I know when I hear someone calling themselves and expert and pros I'm always somwhat in doubt of what they have to say.
9:34am • #88

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Gerry Michaels GettysburgGerry

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Blog site for Studmuffin Media in Gettysburg Pa. Services include Social media managment, community building, content management, SEO, blogging, video, photography, graphic design, website evaluation and builds. We cover any and all aspects of the Social media, marketing world..


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