Choose your expert wisely; heed her well ;-)
So we’ve reached 1500 blog posts on Birds – wow. And over 14,000 comments too. So a strong post was requested by our esteemed editor, no pressure then…
There is something that I notice more and more often which would be interesting to explore with you…
In these times when we all surely acknowledge that our resources are more stretched than ever, with our time as precious as our cashflow, we really do need to spend that time cannily on who and what we trust, to whom we give our attention.
Yes, this is about what we gain from others’ expertise, not what we give. In this post I’m thinking of the time we spend wading through the information overwhelm and exploring how we better harness that instead of have it hinder us with bewilderment.
There are so many experts out there, or perhaps it would be fairer to say that there is so much expertise freely available to us now, especially with blogging now embraced as a way to show and share what we know; we fall over all the advice on whatever subject we sometimes didn’t even know we needed.
We are bombarded with top tips, 7 ways and all the hacks, cheats and other such awesomeness. And we end up flitting between the experts, like butterflies, sipping from each font of “wisdom”. But oh goodness, then when we come across something that conflicts with what we have learned elsewhere, we then feel the need to chase down the truth. Now just how much time does that take?
Let’s take blogging as an example. Now I have plenty to learn, my style is erratic at best and I’m generally most comfortable with the informative, tutorial style posts over on the Blogmistress. When I then manage to add in some awesomeness my post gets at least twice the number of visitors. Pfff! I hate doing sexy headlines and titles, but they do work. One thing I do understand is the best blogging style for me, what works for me, and that comes from understanding my clients. And I suggest that is what we all must do. Trust yourself, your instincts – no-one knows (or should know) your readers better and how you can blend your style with what they want.
This has to be what it boils down to. Instead of being awestruck by the perception of wisdom shared by those very good at sharing it, perhaps trust ourselves more and perhaps heed those who have shared good advice before.
I’ll bet you’re someone who helps others on a regular basis; how do you feel when just a few weeks after spending time guiding an online friend with advice that you know will work for them for them to pipe up and seem to take on board the teachings of another?
So – these are my nuggets of thought – as a small business person eager to learn and be sure I’m being the most effective I can be. Because I have done the same myself and no doubt miffed more than my fair share of genuine gurus.
And of course another thing, for those of us that share advice, is perhaps we should actually charge. That by being free does not really help people in the long run. Do we all better trust advice that we have paid for, having already put that source through our own pre-qualifiers? What do you think?
Babs
When she isn’t helping others with WordPress she’s the chief Bloke over there… yeah, have fun working that one out 
About BabsBabs runs The Blogmistress to help people use WordPress for their websites and/or blogs. Here on Birds however she lets loose on just about any subject other than WordPress! Follow her on twitter
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26 Responses to Choose your expert wisely; heed her well ;-)
In her shoes: My descent in entrepreneurial hell
In her shoes is a series of anonymous posts from women in business, sharing their experience. In your comments you are asked to answer the question – What would you do in her shoes? My story began 9 months ago; it is a story of self-realisation, friendship, love and betrayal. After 11 years at home [...]
Happy 1500 post Babs!
Each of the ‘gurus’ have shared what worked best for them, their mindset, their time and gave them their results. I think the only way to grow is to try different things for yourself, use the advice (paid or unpaid) and test it. If it’s not working for you, go back and see what you missed and try again. The mindset is crucial to the equation in any modelling technique, even more so than the skills and abilities and that’s the one thing the guru, or even us mortal kind of people, can’t give to a friend or a client.
JackieWalker I lovingly typed…Why counting chimneys is good for change
Twitter: jackiewalker
Interesting Jackie, I read a post by Nikki ages ago about clients who tear down the work that is already done because they haven’t the patience to wait for the SEO work she has done to trickle through – they buy into the magic bullet and get stuck when it doesn’t work…
I have built stuff with Babs to have it thrown out as it wasn’t done right according to another expert… and Babs has strangled me umpteen times for changing my mind about blogs and ripping stuff out – we’re usually both right
And don’t get me started about there being no need for yet another blog about women – we’re the biggest in our niche outside of America. Yet people told me I was mad…
Sarah Arrow I lovingly typed…The difference is in the delivery
You are mad, dear, just not in the way people suggested. It’s a good madness but not many would have the courage to follow that “madness” and get on with it.
And yes – it’s those magic bullets – they rarely are, indeed are they ever?
Babs I lovingly typed…“I need a blog”, you say…
Twitter: babssaul
If we were not celebrating 1500 posts and being mentioned in Elle magazine I might get offended, you know how sensitive I am *sniff*
Sarah Arrow I lovingly typed…The difference is in the delivery
Hmph – can you imagine where we could all be, as a world, if we all had that sort of “mad” about us. How awesome would that be (and you know I don’t use that word lightly). So enough of the “sensitive” and take the compliment. Don’t argue
Babs I lovingly typed…“I need a blog”, you say…
Twitter: babssaul
I think the thing that got me going, Jackie, was recently when a good friend felt quite flustered at some advice that went against what she already knew. So then she spent time to find out if perhaps she’d been doing it wrong after all, when in her head she knew well that she wasn’t wrong. We build our own expertise and need to trust that more often than we do, I think.
Babs I lovingly typed…A WordPress website, just a website and nothing but a website
Twitter: babssaul
Interesting Babs. I think when you give advice freely it may not always be valued, but even so it does add something to your reputation as someone with expertise.
We find that with our software services people do sometimes go on to use our software, but at other times they take our thinking and apply it to their own solution. It’s a difficult problem.
I can’t believe it’s 1500 posts – and now recommended by Elle magazine as well as Forbes. Well done Sarah and Babs
Oh I will always share what I know freely, Ann, and it is an incredibly positive thing to do. But when we look for advice ourselves – then we can spend so much time trying to work out what is and is not useful, what we should take with a pinch of salt, and what we should heed. It is the person we should build our trust in (or who must earn our trust, indeed) and not be chasing an apparent magic bullet that shoots past us.
Babs Saul I lovingly typed…“I need a blog”, you say…
Twitter: babssaul
Blimey – so many nuggets in one post, Babs!
I think we have to be braver: “Because you’re worth it”- with a HUGE smile – should be slapped on our foreheads and we should go several times to the mirror each day to remind ourselves.
If our expertise is of the plant it, nurture it and help it grow variety we should better prepare our clients for the medium and long term gains whilst making sure they get some early wins to give them a quick ‘lift’ and reassure them that they’ve made the right decision.
BTW: I think your efforts at keeping this huge and very busy site up and running smoothly are probably not appreciated by the average visitor: Three cheers, Babs, for achieving no mean feat!
Oh, and I suppose I’d better congratulate the ‘mad’ one for the foresight and the action that accompanied it (and the nagging… shhh) or I’ll never hear the end of it: Well done Sarah – that’s quite some achievement already!
I wonder what’s next???
Linda Mattacks I lovingly typed…How to Recruit The Right Person… The First Step
Twitter: Linda_Mattacks
Thank you, Linda – there are moments when I have to whip the hamsters hard to keep up with how busy this wonderful site is.
And yes – preparing and setting the expectations is vital – but even then people are tempted by new shiny things… Such is the way… Free advice is not always that.
Babs Saul I lovingly typed…“I need a blog”, you say…
Twitter: babssaul
That’s Mrs Mad One to you luv, and you know what is coming next – cos you are (along with other Birds) a big part of it. Yep, it’s our LinkedIn book and some fab interviews on the horizon
Sarah Arrow I lovingly typed…The difference is in the delivery
What an apt topic for a 1,500th post on this site, and how thoughtfully expressed, leaving open much to ponder.
For me, it’s down to trust and communication as much as expertise. In fact if I get the sense that someone has a sharpened expertise but isn’t friendly and approachable it becomes irrelevant in the end. I’m always learning, and I’m desperate for someone supportive to acknowledge that with all the ups and downs of getting to grips with both business knowledge and the internet.
This is where blogging can become central- it’s a conversation not a performance.
When I got the hang that Sarah wanted me to become the Editor of ‘FoodontheBlog’ I thought she was completely mad. And then I thought – well, I really respect Sarah so she must be on to something, and I realised that she is one of those rare people who see the best in others…. and they then BECOME this best.
You also have this quality Babs, and this is the real reason why you and her, and all the great writers on Birds have been so successful.
WELL DONE TO YOU ALL!
Twitter: lisa_attias
Indeed Lisa, I do see the best and love taking a small part in releasing the potential of other bloggers.
What you and Ida with niche sites is nothing short of spectacular. Haim’s post today was just terrific – a new blogger sharing his wisdom it really made me smile.
Sarah Arrow I lovingly typed…The difference is in the delivery
I am still amazed to this day that you gave in to my madness of an idea and thrilled to bit that you did. My in box would suggest that we are gaining a lot of “klout” out there so thanks
ethnicsupplies I lovingly typed…African Women’s reproductive health-she died for lack of £66
Twitter: ethnicsupplies
Thank you, Lisa
As Sarah says, it is a privilege to help others shine – the ontheblogs will always do that, I’m sure. When someone grabs the opportunity and runs with it is even better – we can’t do it for you – it’s up to you to make it happen – we just provide the platform and give it all a good nudge here and there
Babs Saul I lovingly typed…“I need a blog”, you say…
Twitter: babssaul
Well done to all the Birds for getting here- The Elle Magazine recommendation left me speechless! Gurus hmmmm, they are lots of them out there but one that left me thinking out loud recommended that if your blog isn’t being read take down! Really??
I would say it is best to choose one’s guru carefully! I love the Blogmistress
ethnicsupplies I lovingly typed…African Women’s reproductive health-she died for lack of £66
Twitter: ethnicsupplies
Aye! who’d have thunk it Ida, at our age as well
lol
I’m not one for taking down blogs, but it is very rare that a blog has no readers at all and could justify that.
Sarah Arrow I lovingly typed…The difference is in the delivery
I simply assume that I am “The font of all knowledge” within my chosen field but am still willing to learn and listen if something new and exciting comes up.
I will guide and be patient with people who excite me and expect and desire change otherwise please don’t waste my time!
There’s always anothers opinion, always another point of view and you can’t take it personally if someone decides to zig instead of zag, I’d much rather work with a “zagger” than a “zigger”!
Remember…”you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him or her drink”!
Anon, the lifestyle guy has spoken!
Funny, Garth … I was about to say “you can lead a horse to drink but you can’t make it water…” no, that’s not quite right, but anyway…I agree with you totally.
With the vast amount of advice and information available to us today it’s more important than ever for the individual to listen, learn and then filter.
For me, the more information and guidance you receive, the more we need to whittle it all down so we match it in with our own criteria for business, social life, or whatever. Consequently – and fortuitously – that obliges us to analyse even more accurately than before, just what our criteria should be in the first place.
I really don’t think we should be spooked by the current information/advice overload, provided that we stay focused on our own goals and needs, and channel selectively all this incoming information/advice according to what drives us – not what drives the informers/advisors.
Maybe I should add to Garth’s analogy of a horse being led to water here by saying “don’t let the tail wag the dog.”
Twitter: SuzanStMaur
As I dive deeper into who I am and what that means in a money-making capacity, I find that many times I’m turning WAAAAY back to what I was before.
And I’m still choosing to leave many things behind that truly didn’t work.
So, yes, as ever, a bit of both.
Take the advice, hold it against your Heart, see what that feels like.
If it’s good, take it.
If it’s not, leave it.
There is very little that can’t be revisisted later should you TRULY find yourself in need of a change.
And yes, people learning Appropriate Patience would be wonderful.
We’ve ramped up our lives to such a fast pace, that we forget that not everything goes at that pace.
Gotta love the learning! :>
And yes, congrats to all on 1500 posts!
:>
Yay, Sarah! :>
Yay, Birds! :>
Here’s to another 1500!
:>
Birdy Diamond, Roving Robin & Paranormal Diva I lovingly typed…From the Journal: Friday, August 12th, 2011 – On Amusing Repetition :>
That’s spot on, Birdy – thank you.
Babs Saul I lovingly typed…“I need a blog”, you say…
Twitter: babssaul
Thank you for this thoughtful post Barbara.I don’t really know enough about the technicalities of blogs, or marketing, to keep chopping and changing my approach.
What I do is to focus on the simple strategy of putting up articles about topics that I know people want answers to, because they write and ask me.
Naturally I like to charge for my services, but to my mind a blog post must contain limited, if focused information. A book, of course, more detailed but still general guidance, and a one-to-one consultation specific guidance tailored to a particular individual or family situation.
The more detailed and personalised the service the more it seems appropriate to charge. I agree with you though that when I have been willing not to charge for what should be paid services, people are more likely to change or cancel appointments, or ignore decisions that we have arrived at together.
In my practice I help people to think, feel, understand and change their relationship with themselves, as well as others.
But I am ever aware that when people surf on-line, purporting to seek guidance, many will simply be looking for free data that supports their current world-view. This is, I think, why there is so much unhelpful material out there on all kinds of subjects. It is also why some of the more popular websites and posts may ultimately prove to be the least helpful.
IremBray I lovingly typed…Why Play With Your Child? Come On, Let’s Play!
Hi Babs, thanks for your thoughtful post.
I think everything comes down to respect, for ourself and others. I certainly very much value the wealth of expertise from the Birds on the Blog team, as well as many other experts in their field.
Everyone can become an expert in their chosen field if they wish, but also (hopefully) realising there is always something new to learn, otherwise we would stop growing.
We certainly need wisdom and discernment, in how we protect ourselves, and the advice we listen to.
………………………….
On another note congratulations to my fellow birds – I respect each and every one of you
thanks for having this flower girl join in the great bird adventure 
Looking forward to the next milestone!
Anita Hunt I lovingly typed…My love for the beautiful anemone
Twitter: NitaJoyDesigns
1500 posts – hope there were some bubbles flowing! Impressive effort by all birds/guests.
I am at the lower part of the learning curve and love that there is so much advice available from such a broad base of knowledge. It has been very helpful to find you, now I find I have signed up to all sorts of advice and not enough time to read all the emails…… so have unsubscribed to a lot and going with the blog flow for now.
I think it’s great that we can dip back into the advice pool when we and where we need to.
Thanks to all
Twitter: SebaDizajn
Well done all on 1500 posts!
As for information and expertise, I’m afraid I am mostly cyncial about what is out there and why. For starters, if anyone attaches the word Guru to themselves, I run a mile. They are generally not there to share and advise, but primarily to self promote and their status is often self proclaimed only and not a proven or earned accolade.
I agree, that most of us have earned and honed our knowledge and that we should apply our instinctive assessments – I also think that if you do seek knowledge or expertise, first spend the time to define what it is you need to address to try and reduce the amount ot time spent searching for it.
Good thoughtful post Babs,
Twitter: mykitchenstore
Pingback: Roving Robin Report – 09-25-11
Many congratulations on 1500 posts!
Interesting blog. I have some views on this topic, which is one I ponder from time to time.
First of all, we must respect that people have a choice who they work with. Many, many times, in fact too many to mention, I have helped and supported someone for free (to gain traction on the social web), only to find that they have gone and paid someone else for further info, usually a self-proclaimed guru with 200 followers on twitter!. I do not have a problem with this. I send them away with love. Trying to control people or keep them to yourself is not a good strategy … people will sense it and kick against it … and you.
Secondly, payment does not have to come in a monetary format. i.e. rewarding service with money. Nick and I have helped someone for free and they have become very successful in their business. They have not paid us a penny. They have taken all our advice and run with it. We are very proud of what this person has achieved. What they HAVE done is spread the word about us everywhere they go, sending a great deal of business to us. They paid us indirectly by advocating us. That is worth more than money in my mind, because it is scaleable and lasts for perpetuity on the social web and helps people find their way to you, rather than you finding them.
I believe that if you share for the sake of sharing (with no other agenda), the good karma comes back to you tenfold and in ways you could never have imagined. You just have to be patient. It will come.
Vanessa Warwick I lovingly typed…1. Good Property Education Courses – a List of Providers.