What is an expert?

What is an expert? Hmmm. I’ve seen these two definitions:

1. A person who has special skill or knowledge in a particular field.
2. A person trained by practice, skillful or skilled.

Well, I was trying to determine in advance if I was going to write about this; obviously, it’s on my mind so here goes.

I jokingly call my boy Kevin “The Guru”, not because he is one, but because on occasion he knows some things I don’t in areas I don’t spend much time paying attention to. For instance, he’s a Chicago Bears fan and I love the Minnesota Vikings. I know very little about the Bears from year to year, but in my mind they always suck.

This is not a statement of fact; it’s my emotional response as a result of being a Vikings fan. All throughout the football season we both make predictions about wins and losses. He is generally more correct than I am, but at times I’m very guru-like.

We occasionally bet chicken wings, or, if the game has more meaning relative to division standings or playoffs, a steak dinner will be on the line. (I lost a trip to Las Vegas once, although I have yet to pay up; soon Kev!) On some Sundays during football season we speak 10 to 15 times on the phone, depending on what’s taking place on the TV screen.

During these games, I will say something moments before the commentator does or I will call a play before the coach does. When this happens, I’m recognizing a basic understanding about the game and / or the situation. However, sometimes it happens so often that I find myself asking “why does he (the commentator or coach) have that job instead of me?”

Maybe I’m an expert, too. After all, I’ve been watching football for nearly 20 years. I’ve played on teams before, practiced and learned the latest catch phrases and I’m quick witted. Besides all of that, I’m really great at stating the obvious or choosing the next best move just like they are! I have been trained by practice; man, I’m an expert! Not!

So, where is this coming from? Well, I’ve been reading and thinking about some of the information that has come at me lately. Maybe it’s just me, but I increasingly notice a lack of new or original thought. Take self-help books for instance; I have read at least 30 in my life and all of the fundamental principles to a healthy functional life are very clear to me and it all comes down to this: take 100% responsibility for your life! Man, I’m an expert! Probably not.

Recently I happened to see a blog from a guy who was explaining how to connect equipment in a home studio. Having both put a few studios together and consulted with others on how to connect equipment in both home and pro studio environments I do, at the very least, have an idea of how it’s done.

My issue was not with his instructions (he was clearly no expert) but with the forum which hosted this particular blog and called him an expert. Because of my own experience with audio equipment set-up, I could see gaping holes in the explanation that this so-called expert was giving. There is quite a difference between repeating something you’ve heard and conveying something you know.

Now back to Kevin. For as long as I have known him he has worked with at-risk youth. He is paid well and he is great at what he does; but, does that make him an expert? Maybe.

The term expert is thrown around too easily and too often without proof. A body of work and time say more about an individual than any title one is given. So what is an expert? For me, the simple answer is this; an expert is someone with a body of work, demonstrating skill and longevity in their chosen craft with no need to call themselves an expert. Just my thoughts.