Are You Considered An Expert In Your Field?

No matter how much you know about any given subject or industry, you are not considered an expert in the field unless someone else says you are. They may know as much or more than you do, but if they have reason to believe that you are and expert, then others likely will also view you as an expert.

The question then becomes, how do you get others to view as the go-to expert on matters in your chosen field of expertise? Being recognized as an expert is hard work and attempting to convince people of your credentials will not make it happen. You have to show them your expertise. One way to make that happen is to become published on the subject. There is something about being named an author about a subject that can instantly make you an expert.

Let me tell you a funny story: when visiting in India with my outsourcing development partners http://www.bsil.com/ , I met - during their annual Celebration for the deceased founder of the company, their external accountant and auditor. A very charming, well read gent and a music lover. He stated, he wants to come to Vienna and also to Salzburg in a couple of months to attend the world famous Salzburg music festival, and could I help him to get a speaking engagement on that occasion. So I arranged for him to speak at the Federal Chamber of Commerce on "Foreign Investments in India" which was well received by the audience, as he is really a gifted speaker, able to spice the dry subject with life and wit. And he came well prepared. In fact, all he did was gather up officially available stuff you can find on the Homepage of the Government of India, practically he had only helped TWO companies to setting up a subsidiary in India at this point. Next thing I did after his return to India, I checked his homepage and guess what I found there as a reference? His company has "consulted the Government of Austria" on business relations with India !!! This made me and all my friends who had met him laugh out loud, but 99,9% of people reading this would actually believe it (and not check!). My private advice, always stick to the truth. People who know the ropes would value a Chamber of Commerce connection far more than a Government connection. And since the world is a village nowadays, you don't want to go red in the face when meeting old friends again who may stab you with questions about the issue, knowing you have shamelessly "used" them.

Let it suffice to be said that - many times you will see a presentation being given by someone you never heard of, and it is usually accompanied by the notice that they are the author of a book, an article an important-sounding paper, but rarely does it ever say where the item was published. That detail is not nearly as important than actually being published. Making copies of the article available also lends credence to the claim of being an expert.

With so many ezines published on a daily, weekly and monthly basis, use your background and knowledge about a subject and write a short informative article. Find an ezine publication focused in the same area and offer them the article free of charge. Unless it is true garbage, most ezines will not refuse free content and once they publish it, you are on the road to becoming an expert.

Offer your speaking services to local service organizations on subjects related to their membership. If you have spent years in management, you probably have good knowledge about many aspects of managing a business and speaking to other business owners about management ideas can boost your credibility. Now, not only are you a published author but you are also an experienced speaker.

From the free speeches to small groups you can advance to offering presentations to peer groups, further securing your status as an expert in the field and can get paid for your speaking and presentation abilities. In reality, the biggest difference between an expert in the field and another person working in the field is not about their advanced knowledge. It is more about how much they can charge for their services. Experts make more money.

Starting a consulting business, based on being an acknowledged expert can make all the difference in the world. Your subject matter and materials may be exactly the same. but with the new designation of expert in the biography, there are more people willing to spend money to hear you speak.

Your website can tout all the reasons and all the people and groups that consider you an expert in the field, without every using the word expert. Simply by having the background as a published author and public speaker is usually enough credibility to make your expert opinion worth pay to hear.

Can Such A Business Thrive At Home?

Have you ever been on vacation and come across a business idea that you have never seen before? Maybe a twist to an old idea that you thought was unique or a new taste to the old hamburger that you find absolutely fantastic. Maybe a retailer with a unique niche product that you find is not only available but can be opened as a franchise. Before writing the check to get the business open back home, you are going to want to do some research to find out if the business can survive in your neighborhood.

It is not only whether there is enough population in your hometown to support the business, but are there enough of the right kind of customers to make the business grow into the success you envision? While you may be enamored with the concept, you will need to make sure others will embrace your enthusiasm before opening a new business. You can easily start by looking around in neighboring communities to see if such a business exists.

They do not have to be the same brand you are considering, but similar in the type of products or services they offer. It will probably not hurt to travel to a nearby location and talk to the owner of the franchise about business prospects. They may not be willing to divulge a lot of information to a stranger, but they give you a general idea about the success of the business. Also, if there are no cars in the lot during what you might consider what should be a busy time, what they tell you may be a moot point.

Look at competition to the concept and how other businesses are supplying the overall need that your proposed franchise may end up competing against. You should also understand the demographics in your area, and most information is available free through local chambers of commerce. By comparing the community make up with other similar sized communities, you can gain a good understanding of the potential for success your franchise idea may have.

While most companies, for reasons known only to them are reluctant to talk about profit expectations, talking with other franchise owners may reveal some of the realities of owning that particular franchise. Again, they may be reluctant to offer figures, but most will share their experiences about the business relationship with the flagship company. But researching the company as well as the business can save a lot of heartache in the long run, as well as your cash.

I still remember about 15 years ago my friend came home from a hong holiday in Bali and was burning with the idea of opening a small store with furniture from there - especially for veranda /winter-garden/outdoor garden in her home-town, which happens to be Innsbruck in Tyrol/Austria. A typical Wintersports region, the days you can sit outdoors in your garden can be counted on your 2 hands...so I adviced her against it.

Buying into a franchise can be the beginning of a long lasting financial affair with your bank and if the business venture will not work in your town you can either find a town in which it has a better chance of survival or find another opportunity.

Meanwhile, a Yuppie-Furniture chain-store in Vienna has taken up this idea and indeed imports a lot from Bali - but then again, they have various outlets and climate in Vienna is much warmer, besides this, had the idea flopped, THEY would not go broke because of it, they have plenty of other product lines to make business with in their store! Now let's say, my friend would hold on to her idea and ask the Furniture chain store for a Franchise for Innsbruck TODAY...

But, the bottom line is that if you enter into a franchise agreement and the business does not produce as expected, you are the one holding the promissory note with the bank and if you put your house up as collateral, you family's future depends on the depth of your research. The climate has not changed much in Innsbruck, but she MIGHT just succeed because she has other products- proven perpetual runners- to market.

We still have fun talking about it, because she is proud of having come up with this good idea way before the TREND started. But with little cash - and she sees it clearly today, her chances to succeed would have been minimal.