Something has been plaguing me for a while now. I’ve reached a certain point on Twitter where I get followed by about 10 new people a day. Most of these new people I don’t know and are only following me because I have a strong interested in Social Media.
Actually, I don’t mind following back some of these strangers after I carefully view their stream and determine if they’re a spammer or have something valuable to say (most of the time they’re a pushy spammer).
Where my problem lies is that when I read the bio of this new tweep, they often and freely introduce themselves as a “Social Media Guru” or “Expert” or some other industry superlative in whatever field they’re in.
My years of Martial Arts training has taught me one thing:
There is no such thing as an expert!
In Martial Arts, there is a title of “Master”. Now that might seem like the definitive title given to a person who has learned all there is not know… However if you actually take the time and sit down with a master of a Martial Art, you’ll often find out that they are extremely humble and actually show interest in what you’re saying. Most masters that I have met believe that everyone has something to teach and we are always learning. The title of Master denotes more of a rank than anything else (to confuse the matter, there is actually a Grand Master status). Politics, traditions, and formalities cause students to call them Masters, but in reality they are students of what they love… They are always learning!
I feel that once you have pegged yourself as an “Expert”, “Master”, or “Guru”, you are telling the world that you know everything that there is to know in your field and that you are finished learning.
My problem with that strategy is if you stop learning and things change… you’ll be left behind!
So to all of the “Gurus, Experts, and Masters” out there, take a step back and humble yourself. Remain a perpetual student. If you don’t remove the bragadocious label that you’ve place on yourself, the day that you are proven wrong could potentially be the end of your career.
I leave you with these last words. A quote from my all-time favorite movie, Fight Club.
“You are not special. You are not a beautiful or unique snowflake.
You’re the same decaying organic matter as everything else.”
