Table of Contents
Section
Becoming an Expert
Chapter
34
Why Do It

With rare exceptions, becoming an expert in any field takes years of study, practice, and commitment. There is almost never an easy path. Some disciplines take longer than others to master, but the path is neither quick nor simple. The route may seem easy at first, but eventually the slope goes steeply uphill and the lighting becomes dim. And, to be sure, the route is flanked by skeptics. The naysayers can be found at every turn. They mock from every high hill. The process of gaining expertise is so painful, in fact, that many of the most capable people are filtered out because they lack the means or the dedication required. When people mock or point fingers, it is tempting to let go of the goal, wander off the path, and settle for mediocrity.

So why do it? Why commit thousands of hours and endless energy to developing an expertise that might never be fully utilized or appreciated? Why become truly expert at anything? Maybe good enough is good enough.

Some people pursue an expertise as a hobby, some as an obsession, and some as an opportunity. Many people do it because experts earn more money than non-experts, while some use expertise as a path to power, influence, or control. Still others simply crave attention, notoriety, or fame. Some experts go so far as to identify their pursuit as the very purpose of their existence. To them, being an expert is more than the thing they were meant to do; it is the thing that defines who they are.

Whatever inspires you as an expert, be it wealth, fame, power, or something else, those motives will eventually reveal themselves to the people around you. Try as you might, you cannot permanently hide your true motives from the people you influence.

At the end of the day, what really matters is that experts have a greater capacity to serve. Experts can help people in ways that others cannot. Experts can lift, fix, solve, build, and unify where others fail. Becoming an expert is a truly noble pursuit because experts can serve people in ways that they cannot serve themselves. The best experts, the truly inspiring ones, are those who strive first to lift others, even before they lift themselves.

Your influence as an expert will flourish when you know deep down in your gut the true reason for your pursuit. If your expertise is all about your power, your influence, or your control, then your accomplishments will benefit only you. But if your highest priority is to lift and help others, then your accomplishments will be multiplied and accentuated.

Our world is filled with pain, doubt, loneliness, and heartache. Many things need to be changed and improved, and many people need assistance. However, the world is rarely changed by the ordinary, the good enough, or the commonplace. No, changing the world requires experts—people with tremendous capacity, tenacity, strength, and courage. Experts can make a profound difference in the world.

Becoming an expert is one of the most noble of human pursuits. The path is hard, and because it is hard, it brings discipline to action, clarity to thought, and fulfillment to interests. Being an expert can and should be a lifelong pursuit, but it should be done for the right reasons: for the purpose of lifting, helping, and encouraging others. In short, to be a valued expert—a truly great influence in the world—is to be a servant who is motivated by love.

expert \'ek-spərt\
adjective: having or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience
dig \'dig\
verb: to unearth
verb: to like or enjoy
noun: a sarcastic remark
noun: archaeological site undergoing excavation