Everybody is an expert .....

In the past I have written about the Competence vs Confidence debate and how the QoQ world rewards Confidence and attitude over mere Competence.

Taking this thought ahead, in today's time when access to information is so ubiquitous, everyone can potentially become an expert by using a combination of presence of mind and confidence.

Let's zoom out a little more and look at spirituality and the inward journey that man has been exhorted to make. There is this huge body of knowledge that has been recorded basis deep experimentation done over millennia that prescribes methods for making this journey successfully. And yet, at the same time, there is an element of faith and trust when results do not seem to be overtly happening.

Faith and trust is needed when linearity between efforts and results don't appear to be apparent.

And this is true in every other aspect of our living, including in business. Beyond a point relying solely on evidence or data to get results may not be the right thing. It needs to be supplemented with an abundant dose of Faith and Passion.

So you will have "experts" advising you on the inward journey, basis some superficial reading and by attending some courses.

Likewise in professional life you will have experts telling you how to manage your time, when it is very likely they themselves are struggling to manage their own time. And the same goes for Goal Setting or Prioritizing and so on. Many of these "experts" have become one by mere superficial reading.

As in the spiritual world they say s/he is a Realized Master (now how does one confirm this I do not know), likewise how do you find out if the "expert" telling you something is "realized" in that area of expertise.

I know of experts like Mahadevan Ramachandran - Solopreneur's Coach or a Swati Arora (ICF ACC) who are realized in their own way. Maha is an ordinary person like you and me but when it comes to discipline and prioritizing and setting goals, he is relentless. If he speaks about these subjects then you better listen because he does this day in and day out. Swati has lived her life on these very same principles and more. In fact she has re-architected her life from scratch. So if she preaches something then it comes from deep practice and experience.

The internet unfortunately has thrown up a lot of experts who can give unsolicited advice and caution. So when you start on something be cautious about who you tell it to, because "experts" with abundant confidence can derail you in your endeavor using data available on the net!!!

Of course I am assuming that you will not start anything without adequate study, thought and conviction. But even so, experts can derail you, using data. That's why belief, faith and passion are key, of course along with consistency.

Even in the spiritual journey, we are told - "try sampling a few paths but once you choose your path, then the operative words ought to be Loyalty, Obedience and Discipline."

I notice many youngsters today jumping quickly to the net to check out facts before accepting anything.

I think its a wonderful practice and a must too, so that we don't get carried away by fake news and partial truths. But they take this practice a bit too far and into some of the more fundamental things of life and that is where it starts to confuse and detract from achieving one's goals.

Personally, when I start off something related to personal development or health, I try and avoid telling anyone. Or rather just tell 1-2 people who I know for sure will be encouraging, rather than those who will try to derail you using internet research.

This is therefore my recommendation. Do enough research on your own including talking to your mentors and once you are convinced and feel passionate about, quietly launch off and be loyal and disciplined. Results will usually come.

#PadiHaiwithKG

www.krishnagopal.com