Expert my ass

Sometimes we fall into the trap of relying on an expert for a critical business issue. This can often cripple a business, or slow down its momentum while folks are waiting for the expert to make their proclamation. The fact is that if you are running a business YOU are the expert, YOU need to be the one to understand the issue and make the decision. The expert is simply an advisor – and advisors need guidance that comes from knowledgeable sources. Simple case with my new project – the ZenieBottle – we have a formula inside our bottle that is exhibiting undesirable characteristics. We hired a chemist to provide us with his expert advice. We paid the money, got the advice and still had unanswered questions – "Why does the bottle display this effect?" The chemist didn't know the answer and didn't have a game plan to get the answer. So I had to draw upon my very limited chemical knowledge and start surfing the web – I became enough of an expert to ask the question differently and specifically guide his efforts, "This effect is really common in these other applications – to counter it they are using these agents – can we find a solution similar to those other applications?" Now the expert has a task to attack. Sometimes you need to educate yourself so that you can make the expert business decision. The hired guns are just advisors – simply taking their advice can be dangerous. You have to understand all critical elements of your business – you have to know what sounds reasonable and what is BS. You have to know enough about an issue and the expected or desired resolution to assess the quality of advice from your hired guns. There are no better experts on your business than you – take ownership and get the outcome you want.

Comments

[rando]

I agree with the middle part but not so much with the conclusions in the end: the tough part is asking good questions and knowing enough to understand if the responses provide your needed information or solution. I don't think being the expert is the key--key is asking the right questions of the right people.

Many people have good answers; a few know how to ask good questions.