A Little Quiz to Show You How Big a Deal You Really Are
Joe the Plumber.
Dog the Bounty Hunter.
Bill Nye the Science Guy.
While plumbing, bounty hunting and science might be worthy industries, few would have ever thought they might be the breeding grounds of some of today’s unlikeliest celebrities. But such is the case when we live in a world where the popular media, indeed popular culture, is plugged in and turned on 24/7, 365 days a year.
Being an industry expert is easier than ever these days, but perhaps you feel a little “industry envy” when it comes to your field. Believe me, no field is too big, or too small, to brand yourself as the go-to expert.
Think New Hudson, Michigan is too isolated to be a hot spot for experts and celebrities? Think gardening is too insignificant a subject to own as the go-to expert and publish books and have your own radio show? Jerry Baker disagrees; known as “The Flower Expert,” Jerry has carved out an enviable niche for himself that stretches far beyond the finger lakes.
According to Jerry’s website, “Jerry Baker is the author of more than 50 books, including Jerry Baker’s Flower Garden Problem Solver, Jerry Baker’s Giant Book of Garden Solutions, Jerry Baker’s Green Grass Magic… and Plants Are Like People… His radio show, On the Garden Line, is syndicated nationwide, and his gardening specials have been televised on PBS.”
Now, I think we all agree that’s a resume to be proud of and expertise to be coveted. So how did Jerry Baker, Joe the Plumber, Dog the Bounty Hunter and Bill Nye the Science Guy do it?
Simple; they answered the following eight quick questions to determine whether or not their expertise could support the kind of career that celebrities are made of:
- Does what I do have value? We all like to think what we do is valuable, not just to us, but to the world at large. Every job has value; we just have to determine exactly what ours is.
- Do I love what I do? Celebrities, experts, pundits, gurus, call them what you will, the go-to people in ANY field absolutely love what they do. Chances are if you’re reading this article, you do too.
- Do I love talking to people about what I do? Celebrities are natural talkers, not because they like to hear themselves speak but because they just can’t help but share their enthusiasm for what they do with other people.
- Do I wish more people could do what I do? Experts in every field naturally believe their field is THE field; they want everyone to share their love of gardening, plumbing, accounting, flying, etc.
- Do I have an intense desire to reach a bigger audience? We all want to go a little farther, reach a little more and do it a little faster, but experts in their fields really do enjoy dominating a larger playing field each year they’re in the game.
- Do I know my passion inside and out? One thing that always amazes me about my clients is how well they know their business. Experts aren’t called that because they “kinda, sorta” know what they’re talking about. When you know your field backward and forward, you are ready, willing and most importantly able to Celebritize Yourself.
- Do I want more credibility through books, CDs, interviews and more? Modern experts recognize that they must become “celebrities” to get the recognition and credibility they deserve; they see this as a natural progression of their industry expertise.
- Do I want to learn more by teaching more? Lastly, every expert I’ve ever met, written about, helped publicize or interviewed for my radio show has been a natural-born teacher. People with expertise want to share that expertise, and do so willingly; in teaching others about what it is they do (plumbing, bounty hunting, science, flowers), they learn even more – about themselves, their audience and their industry.
So you see, becoming a world-recognized expert in your field – in any field – doesn’t require a Ph.D., a 90210 zip code or a nationally-televised talk show. All you need to dominate your field, any field, is the confidence to Celebritize Yourself and the right answers to all of the above questions.
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More From Marsha Friedman
Marsha Friedman launched EMS Incorporated in 1990. Her firm represents corporations and experts in a wide array of fields such as business, health, food, lifestyle, politics, finance, law, sports and entertainment. She consults individuals and businesses on a daily basis and is frequently asked to speak at conferences about how to harness the power of publicity. Outside of the office, she is also the founder of a non-profit organization called the Cherish the Children Foundation. In 1996 the White House recognized her charity which sets out to raise awareness of the plight of underprivileged and foster children.
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