Be an Expert - The Common Garden Variety
November 4th 2011 00:20
Link: www.theprofitfrog.com
How You Can Position Yourself As An Expert
In my most recent blog I referred to the "extra-ordinary" person and looked at what in my opinion equates with makes an ordinary human become something "extra".
I also noted that a woman I met in the US has impressed me as she transitions into a Social Media guru - and I mention her again here because I opened a link to a magazine that was sent to me recently and there she was, "the expert" providing an article on her area of "expertise".
From the title of this blog, you might be wondering what the garden has to do with it.
Let me share a little story and a few observations from my daily world.
Like most entrepreneurs, I have to start somewhere. After all, there are bills to pay - rent, car and daily household costs - all the usual stuff we deal with. Like you, I have to find the means to cover those expenses, and like many entrepreneurs before me, I have to live within the current means until I make that final "aha!" breakthrough that will see me transition into my dream lifestyle.
To pay the bills I work in a garden centre.
It is truly an odd-job for me.
My background is in cooking - a trade apprenticeship completed before being a "master" chef was all the rage.
I went back to school with no real plan or focus, other than to complete my education. Misguided with good intentions, I completed my last high school year, then 3 yrs at uni. I became a psychiatric nurse instead of a psychologist - no idea why, when I look back these days. Stupid move, really.
I worked in both industries in which I gained my qualifications.
But, unhappily - and moved on.
Tried TV extras work, not my thing.
Worked in insurance call centres and mortgage call centres, and insurance claims at a high-end level (that was my chosen career in the end... lucrative for a corporate role - with potential earnings of $110k by developing "expertise" in the area. My nursing served me well in that field until I was bullied out of my job.)
Losing my career spelled personal disaster for me.
My personal and professional life spiralled out of control - and to this day, my world never really recovered.
EXCEPT that I was forced to focus on looking for alternative means to support myself - that is, I had to consider how I would generate income for myself given that my career path was destroyed and my resume is a natural disaster.
Cut to the present moment, and I secured a role within a garden centre.
Take a moment to look back over my shoddy career.
Where do you see me make reference to anything "garden"?
You're right - I don't.
I know no more than the "average" person about anything to do with soil, plants, pests or disease, pots, trees, fruiting seasons, or any plant-and-garden related that my customers ask me about.
However, as a part of my role in customer service, it is my responsibility to deliver excellent information and high level customer service to the customers who walk through the doors into the garden centre.
How do I do it?
How can I be sure that any information I give them is correct?
And what does this have to do with being an expert?
Well, here's the thing.
I have realised that my perception of "average" person is far higher than what it really seems to be. I realise most people know very little about anything - other than the absolute basics it takes for them to survive their daily grind.
I figured this because there are only small pockets of customers who come through who need little assistance with garden related matters, that is, when they do require help, they don't ask questions about product or plant but instead want the higher end detail.
Otherwise, most of the customers I serve need LOTS of help with most of their purchases, and ask dozens of questions.
I answer those questions (1) confidently, (2) truthfully, and (3) by referring to the other experts around me - those with genuine garden knowledge and formal training. I make a point of remembering the answers, or researching on the internet when I get home - so that next time, I have that information available to me when a customer asks.
The funny thing is, those majority of customers who need the assistance are genuinely and sincerely appreciative and thankful for the "expertise" I have shared.
I ask a lot of questions which makes me sound like I know the questions to ask to "diagnose" their problem (yet those questions are simply the obvious ones... or at least they seem very obvious to me. Like, where is the tree going to be planted; how much sun will it get; have you planted anything in the soil previously; are you a dedicated gardener or someone who won't have time to commit to the care of the plant - and that last question elicits some great honest answers!)
The point is, you can present like an expert in the minds of others when you choose an audience who do not know a great deal about the subject but are hungry for the information.
You can also become the expert when you ask lots of questions, and choose to deliver the information you have with confidence - from the standpoint that you ARE the expert.
More importantly, become passionate about what you want to be the expert in and study it, learn it, do research on it and generally focus your energies on that subject matter to the point where you do have expertise to deliver.
At The Profit Frog, I am the expert on customer service for small to medium business. I can provide business owners with powerful gems on how to portray their business as the solution delivery business for their specific customer problems and needs.
I can help train business owners on how to create superior customer service at the grass root level. My passion is helping small business fill the gaps in their cash flow by totally re-evaluating and redirecting cash flow on such things as advertising, staff training, customer management systems and marketing.
I am also passionate about helping the business owner capture every attention of their customers - and convert that into long lasting loyal relationships, and maximum life-time spend value of each and every customer.
I know I have this knowledge because I have studied it for 5years and written about it, and delivered it.
Turn your humble "common garden" knowledge into the one thing you are passionate about and become the expert.
People will PAY for your knowledge. There is an audience out there that wants your help. So, what kind of expert will you be?
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