I think there comes a point where you have enough experience to regard yourself as an authority, as long as you don't make the mistake of comparing what you know with what other people supposedly know. From my own experience, too much thinking, researching, waiting for the right moment can be pretty counterproductive. Perhaps the best yardstick is not whether you have enough experience or authority per se, but whether it's enough to help the intended readership. You just need to be somewhat ahead of them, not ahead of everybody. (I am using the word 'you' as a synonym for 'one.)
The "royal you" or the "southern you" aka "y'all." I love it. And I agree with you on all counts. I especially enjoy your point about analysis paralysis. Little is worse than Dr. Seuss's waiting place.
After rereading my post following yours, I realized I got carried away with vocal authority and slightly veered off-topic. You make a good point, Terry: your authority level depends on the audience. Also, not comparing your knowledge to others’, as you said, I think is an important factor here, whether privately or publicly.
So, to me, there is a place and reason to compare ourselves to each other, but in terms of using comparison as a weapon, it leaves us vulnerable to humiliation (always a bigger fish, right?), and more disastrously it shuts us down to the possibility of collective discovery.
Exactly, Jody. This is one of the reasons I can't stand and don't trust many politicians. They seem incapable of admitting mistakes or lack of knowledge, or sharing expertise and therefore credit.
Thanks, Corey. Well, not to devalue Jody's Knowledge of encourage BS, there is some truth in the saying that in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king
Congratulations on the upcoming milestone. Your success is as inspirational as your passion, and the optimism enshrouding your core message is infectious.
As for the relationship between experience and authority, I believe you can have one without the other. However, it depends on how you define experience.
To talk about a topic, you must know something about it.
Suppose I read a book on motivational speaking, I could probably authoritatively explain the highlights of the material, and to somebody with little to no knowledge in the field, I might even sound adept. Though I’ve never given a lecture or taken a course, I’m familiar with the subject and arguably have some experience.
So—can knowledge alone be considered experience? I feel like most people would say no, and depending on what time of day you asked me, so would I.
I mean, I wouldn't want to learn how to fight fires from a guy who’s never been in a burning building and only studied fire science, regardless of how authoritative his language, but on a different matter, say architecture, I might take the word of someone who’s never drawn a blueprint yet knows every nuance and angle of how to do it.
These aren’t the best examples, though I think they illustrate my point.
Lastly, I think your authority in the podcast comes from your experiences as much as your confidence and that you visibly and audibly believe in what you say.
Wow! I love this reply! Would have made a great philosophical conversation on my podcast. You are so right, and it has me in this interesting place of knowing that while I do have authority on "marketing mindset" I have no authority on selling books, and until my book does what I believe it will, I had better never try to pedal book shlepping authority.
I think there comes a point where you have enough experience to regard yourself as an authority, as long as you don't make the mistake of comparing what you know with what other people supposedly know. From my own experience, too much thinking, researching, waiting for the right moment can be pretty counterproductive. Perhaps the best yardstick is not whether you have enough experience or authority per se, but whether it's enough to help the intended readership. You just need to be somewhat ahead of them, not ahead of everybody. (I am using the word 'you' as a synonym for 'one.)
The "royal you" or the "southern you" aka "y'all." I love it. And I agree with you on all counts. I especially enjoy your point about analysis paralysis. Little is worse than Dr. Seuss's waiting place.
I didn't know what that was, but I do now. Thanks for expanding my knowledge.
After rereading my post following yours, I realized I got carried away with vocal authority and slightly veered off-topic. You make a good point, Terry: your authority level depends on the audience. Also, not comparing your knowledge to others’, as you said, I think is an important factor here, whether privately or publicly.
So, to me, there is a place and reason to compare ourselves to each other, but in terms of using comparison as a weapon, it leaves us vulnerable to humiliation (always a bigger fish, right?), and more disastrously it shuts us down to the possibility of collective discovery.
Exactly, Jody. This is one of the reasons I can't stand and don't trust many politicians. They seem incapable of admitting mistakes or lack of knowledge, or sharing expertise and therefore credit.
For my own mental health, I had to quit paying attention to politics. I was beginning to struggle with rage issues.
Thanks, Corey. Well, not to devalue Jody's Knowledge of encourage BS, there is some truth in the saying that in the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king
I meant to write OR encourage...
Congratulations on the upcoming milestone. Your success is as inspirational as your passion, and the optimism enshrouding your core message is infectious.
As for the relationship between experience and authority, I believe you can have one without the other. However, it depends on how you define experience.
To talk about a topic, you must know something about it.
Suppose I read a book on motivational speaking, I could probably authoritatively explain the highlights of the material, and to somebody with little to no knowledge in the field, I might even sound adept. Though I’ve never given a lecture or taken a course, I’m familiar with the subject and arguably have some experience.
So—can knowledge alone be considered experience? I feel like most people would say no, and depending on what time of day you asked me, so would I.
I mean, I wouldn't want to learn how to fight fires from a guy who’s never been in a burning building and only studied fire science, regardless of how authoritative his language, but on a different matter, say architecture, I might take the word of someone who’s never drawn a blueprint yet knows every nuance and angle of how to do it.
These aren’t the best examples, though I think they illustrate my point.
Lastly, I think your authority in the podcast comes from your experiences as much as your confidence and that you visibly and audibly believe in what you say.
Wow! I love this reply! Would have made a great philosophical conversation on my podcast. You are so right, and it has me in this interesting place of knowing that while I do have authority on "marketing mindset" I have no authority on selling books, and until my book does what I believe it will, I had better never try to pedal book shlepping authority.