Comments on: Better than an Expert: 7 Things I’d Rather Be http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/ Life, Art, and Other Unfinished Work Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:38:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: thinking thursday. | 37days.com - Home of Patti Digh http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/comment-page-1/#comment-33746 thinking thursday. | 37days.com - Home of Patti Digh Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:19:19 +0000 http://www.mildlycreative.com/?p=4701#comment-33746 [...] This blog post by Ken Robert is one I read over and over again. There is so much in it that I resonate with. In a world in which people identify themselves as gurus and life-changers and experts, it is grounding to realize that I’d rather be an example, a friend, an advocate, an explorer, a collaborator, an artist, a human being. Thank you, Ken, for giving words to my desire. [...] [...] This blog post by Ken Robert is one I read over and over again. There is so much in it that I resonate with. In a world in which people identify themselves as gurus and life-changers and experts, it is grounding to realize that I’d rather be an example, a friend, an advocate, an explorer, a collaborator, an artist, a human being. Thank you, Ken, for giving words to my desire. [...]

]]> By: Liz http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/comment-page-1/#comment-17872 Liz Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:40:55 +0000 http://www.mildlycreative.com/?p=4701#comment-17872 I just found your post from a tweet, and it really struck a chord with me. Like Sharon mentioned, I'm starting my own business and I get down on myself sometimes for not being an "expert" in anything, even though throughout my life I've generally chosen to have new experiences over focusing in on one thing until I become the best at it. I sort of saw it as a big flaw in my character. So I really appreciate what you said in this post because it sort of snapped me out of it and is making me rethink things. Maybe it's not so bad, my way of doing things, and even if I'm no expert I still have a lot to offer the world. Liz I just found your post from a tweet, and it really struck a chord with me. Like Sharon mentioned, I’m starting my own business and I get down on myself sometimes for not being an “expert” in anything, even though throughout my life I’ve generally chosen to have new experiences over focusing in on one thing until I become the best at it. I sort of saw it as a big flaw in my character. So I really appreciate what you said in this post because it sort of snapped me out of it and is making me rethink things. Maybe it’s not so bad, my way of doing things, and even if I’m no expert I still have a lot to offer the world.

Liz

]]> By: Michael Goldfarb http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4935 Michael Goldfarb Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:40:48 +0000 http://www.mildlycreative.com/?p=4701#comment-4935 Ken, I stumbled upon your site, and I'm glad I did. This is a great post, and really helped to put things in perspective for me. The importance of being an "expert" is tossed around all of the time, but I can't think of anyone who wouldn't rather have an example of a friend. Thanks for this post. Michael Ken,

I stumbled upon your site, and I’m glad I did. This is a great post, and really helped to put things in perspective for me. The importance of being an “expert” is tossed around all of the time, but I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t rather have an example of a friend.

Thanks for this post.

Michael

]]> By: Sharon Raden http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4928 Sharon Raden Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:51:10 +0000 http://www.mildlycreative.com/?p=4701#comment-4928 Hi Ken, What a great post! I think the number of comments you have received speak to how great it is. This was so timely for me. I've been struggling with the notion of "having" to be an expert as I have been putting together my business. It has been causing me to have doubts about what I am offering and has stalled some of my forward momentum. This post was just what I needed to bring me back to life and unlock my "shackles of perfectionism". Thank you so much! BTW, I find all your posts to be inspiring. Sharon Hi Ken,

What a great post! I think the number of comments you have received speak to how great it is.

This was so timely for me. I’ve been struggling with the notion of “having” to be an expert as I have been putting together my business. It has been causing me to have doubts about what I am offering and has stalled some of my forward momentum. This post was just what I needed to bring me back to life and unlock my “shackles of perfectionism”. Thank you so much!

BTW, I find all your posts to be inspiring.

Sharon

]]> By: Tony Wanless http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4924 Tony Wanless Mon, 22 Mar 2010 06:03:13 +0000 http://www.mildlycreative.com/?p=4701#comment-4924 What a great post. "Less" is more enlightened than "more" so I love the "taking away" aspect. Too often people try to vaguely be something, instead of recognizing what they're not. Good on ya. Tony What a great post. “Less” is more enlightened than “more” so I love the “taking away” aspect.
Too often people try to vaguely be something, instead of recognizing what they’re not.
Good on ya.
Tony

]]> By: Tara Mohr http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4911 Tara Mohr Sun, 21 Mar 2010 05:32:11 +0000 http://www.mildlycreative.com/?p=4701#comment-4911 Hi Ken, I LOVE and very much relate to this post...very happy to have discovered your blog and your work via Karen of Square-Peg. This post makes me think about the big picture of....what is this new context/world/era we are in in which leadership and value is not about expertise - but about all of the things you mention - advocating, exploring, collaborating, creating? Daniel Pink's ideas in A Whole New Mind are relevant here I think--that technical skills and expertise are less valuable in our era, because work that is fundamentally about technical knowledge is being outsourced or automated. He argues that skills like design, story, meaning creation and synthesis are now of paramount value. You could say that an "expert" is someone whose value comes from concentrated technical knowledge in one area...and that the other 7 ways of being you mention here connect to the now-important skills Pink is writing about. Other thing this makes me think about is the framework of adaptive leadership coming out of Harvard's Kennedy School. A couple of the big ideas are that the big questions/challenges of our times are ones in which there is not a clear solution, or even consensus on the nature of what the problem is. In that context, leaders are not experts, they are not people who "decide.' They are the people who are able to articulate the questions, rest in uncertainty, bring together stakeholders and facilitate a process in which the people who have the problems develop their own solutions to the problems. Love your honesty, your great writing and your wisdom. Thanks Ken. Tara Hi Ken,

I LOVE and very much relate to this post…very happy to have discovered your blog and your work via Karen of Square-Peg.

This post makes me think about the big picture of….what is this new context/world/era we are in in which leadership and value is not about expertise – but about all of the things you mention – advocating, exploring, collaborating, creating?

Daniel Pink’s ideas in A Whole New Mind are relevant here I think–that technical skills and expertise are less valuable in our era, because work that is fundamentally about technical knowledge is being outsourced or automated. He argues that skills like design, story, meaning creation and synthesis are now of paramount value. You could say that an “expert” is someone whose value comes from concentrated technical knowledge in one area…and that the other 7 ways of being you mention here connect to the now-important skills Pink is writing about.

Other thing this makes me think about is the framework of adaptive leadership coming out of Harvard’s Kennedy School. A couple of the big ideas are that the big questions/challenges of our times are ones in which there is not a clear solution, or even consensus on the nature of what the problem is. In that context, leaders are not experts, they are not people who “decide.’ They are the people who are able to articulate the questions, rest in uncertainty, bring together stakeholders and facilitate a process in which the people who have the problems develop their own solutions to the problems.

Love your honesty, your great writing and your wisdom. Thanks Ken.

Tara

]]> By: Ken http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4897 Ken Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:41:07 +0000 http://www.mildlycreative.com/?p=4701#comment-4897 I'm honored and I intend to follow through on the steps. Thank you, Amanda. I’m honored and I intend to follow through on the steps. Thank you, Amanda.

]]> By: Ken http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4896 Ken Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:40:32 +0000 http://www.mildlycreative.com/?p=4701#comment-4896 The move went well, and I'm still figuring out how to best use the added space. It's been a good problem to have. The move went well, and I’m still figuring out how to best use the added space. It’s been a good problem to have.

]]> By: Ken http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4895 Ken Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:39:44 +0000 http://www.mildlycreative.com/?p=4701#comment-4895 I'm definitely going to have to add that to my reading list. I've heard a lot of good things about it. Thanks for the recommendation, Pete. I’m definitely going to have to add that to my reading list. I’ve heard a lot of good things about it. Thanks for the recommendation, Pete.

]]> By: Ken http://www.mildlycreative.com/2010/03/better-than-an-expert-7-things-id-rather-be/comment-page-1/#comment-4894 Ken Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:39:03 +0000 http://www.mildlycreative.com/?p=4701#comment-4894 It seems a lot of people have been thinking about this. I guess we're not alone. It seems a lot of people have been thinking about this. I guess we’re not alone.

]]>