Expertise Puzzle Showing Excellent SkillsMost people who know me know I value expertise.  It’s always fun to meet someone who is an expert at something; particularly something I need help with.

I recently watched an American Restoration marathon on the History Channel.  The premise of the show is a guy named Rick Dale who owns a company that restores old items ranging from a boxing ring bell all the way to vehicles.  Watching him and his team transform rusted hulks into fully restored collectables is amazing.  More amazing is the amount of history Rick knows about each item.

I think this type of expertise is certainly necessary for all of us too.  After watching several hours of this show, I think I’ve discovered the formula:

Master What You Already Know.  Rick already has a vast amount of knowledge.  It seems as though each project adds to this.  All of us have knowledge in a particular subject too.  Maybe even some expertise.  Start first with what you already know and do all you can to gain more knowledge and expertise with just that.

Master The History of What You Know.  Not only does Rick have technical skills that help him restore, he also knows the history of each item he works on.  This background knowledge helps make the restoration historically correct.  Do you know the WHY behind the WHAT of your expertise?  Knowing the history and progression of our knowledge and experience gives us a context to frame our own work we do for ourselves and others.  It gives us a sense of credibility that others may look for before engaging our services.

Know Who to Reach Out to for More Expertise.  In many of the episodes, Rick and his team engage the expertise of other experts when they don’t have enough to get a project restored.  If you watch the show Pawn Stars (the show American Restoration spun off from) you’ll see the guys in the pawnshop call on experts to help them determine the value of an item.  Knowing whom you can call on for expertise is crucial for your own credibility.  A true genius might know it all, but the rest of us need to supplement our expertise with that of others.  By building up a strong network of smart people, we become smarter.

This week, think about how you can apply these three steps.  We get paid for what we know as much as for what we do.  Why not make a plan to bolster your own expertise?  It’s the easiest way to get a pay raise that I know of.