On being an "expert"

For much of my life I've had "expert" confused with "know it all"... which has left me very conflicted in my desire to become an expert.

After all, who wants to be like that?

Recently, though, my understanding of being an expert shifted to one that I am actually excited and grateful to embrace. This week's video explains:

Recording it also reminded me of this blog post that I wrote years ago with observations from our local roller-skating rink that still feel relevant.

I love the idea of a true expert being someone who has gone through the "know it all" phase and emerged on the other side, still with valuable knowledge and skills, but no longer afraid of being wrong, threatened by contradictory opinions, or needing to prove anything.

Perhaps people go back and forth from "know it all" to expert multiple times, as they expand and deepen their expertise.

Where in your life do you feel like an expert? Can you think of areas where are you still trying to prove yourself? What does (or would) being an expert look and feel like to you?