ARTICLES

The Five Stages of Expertise

By Maria Mar©

Summary

Are you ready to manifest your professional dream? Can you make a living doing what you love? Author, shaman, life coach and book writing coach Maria Mar offers you five scenarios to identify the five stages of expertise and appraise where you are in the path to your dreams of prosperity. Read more.

If you have lived beyond your 20s and have worked more than five years in your field, you are probably and expert at some level. Yes, you heard me right. You are already an expert! How come other experts are earning top dollars, being interviewed on TV and radio, traveling and speaking, and you are trading hours per dollars at a job that does not give you the freedom to express your uniqueness? This interactive article looks at the three main hurdles that do not allow you to recognize your expertise. It presents 5 stories based on real women, each at a different level of expertise.

To use this article as a self-assessment tool, follow this simple process.

Study each character as you read the story.
Choose the one you identify with and
Discover at what stage of expertise you find yourself,
Identify the problems that may be stopping you from assuming your expertise, and
Examine the solutions you need to implement in order to to step into your next level of expertise.
Click on the solution link to find out about the particular stage of expertise and about what could help the protagonist in that story...and you, succeed.
Click on the coaching program link to go directly to the coaching program I offer for that stage of expertise.

Three Hurdles

Hurdle No. 1: You are not assuming your expertise emotionally.

The first hurdle on your path to your dreams of prosperity may be that you do not recognize your expertise at an emotional level.

Sure, you may know that you've been working 5, 10, 15 years in your field. You may even protest that you are been paid a fraction of what you expertise deserves. But can you assume your expertise? Do you really trust it? Can you present it to others in ways that are easily grasped? Unless you can emotionally assume your Expert Self, you will not summon the credibility that makes others refer to you as an expert.

The process of assuming your expertise requires that you:

	Get help from a therapist, coach or other expert.
	Examine and internalize role models that are close to you.
	Release old emotions and perceptions that undermine your belief in yourself.
	Celebrate and receive your own wisdom and experience consistently through meditation, new habits and ceremonies.

Hurdle No. 2:Understanding your Expert Positioning Strategy

The second hurdle may be that you don't yet understand the importance of establishing yourself as a recognized expert. Establishing a sizeable reputation as an expert is the first step to creating your dream of prosperity.

First you need to believe in your own expertise. Now you need to get enough people to recognize it. Have you heard of the 100th Monkey Experiment? It established that when enough monkeys in an island established a new behavior, this new insight and behavior would be picked up by monkeys in other islands separated from the first island by the ocean. In other words, enough people need to recognize you as an expert for you to establish an effective reputation. Your Expert Positioning Strategy is the map to get that 100th Monkey on your side. After that, your life changes radically. Fortunately, in this cyberage, establishing your expertise is easier than ever.

Hurdle No. 3: Recognizing the road to your Expertise Dream

The third hurdle may be that you don't know the stages you need to experience on the road to victory as a recognized expert. While each woman is a unique being who creates her own path and shapes her own universe, there are helpful benchmarks or signs that can help al women evaluate at what stage they find themselves.

This article helps you get a clear idea of the road to expertise. They may shake off your perceptual blinders and reveal a path or landscape that has always been there, waiting for you. Open your eyes to see this new possibility. Open your heart to accept it. You will soon find yourself on your next expertise stage.

5 Stories. 5 Problems. 5 Solutions. Which is yours?

	The Disgruntled, Clueless Expert Sarah has brought up two fine kids who are adolescents now. Her boy and her girl are so different! She's had to use all her creativity to offer each unique tools to grow. Proud as she is of her family accomplishments, Sarah is getting migraines. She is angry at her exploitative job in a magazine. She is tired of trying to bring quality and to champion women's needs when the executives in the magazine bend over to the advertisers, disregarding the subscribers. This trend has been going on for ages, and she's seen it in several different magazines, for she's worked in the industry for 15 years. Unfortunately, it's getting worse as the economy suffers. Sarah wants to quit. But what could she do? She is passionate about women's and family's needs and loves to write and edit! Did I mention she has two kids to feed? Sarah keeps complaining to her friends, suffering migraines and feeling unmotivated. What can she do? Solutions for Sarah
	The Disowned Expert Minerva graduated as a lawyer five years ago. In the non-profit organization she works for, she sees hundreds of cases every week. She has a genuine passion for justice and is angry with the injustices against minorities that are taking place in the legal system. She is also exhausted and frustrated with her job. Minerva secretly dreams of writing a book because she used to write creatively before she began law school. She also dreams of making a difference in the justice system and for her people. Lately, she has been getting sick with terrible stomach aches, but her doctor says that's there nothing wrong with her. It's all stress. Minerva knows that if she does not change the stress in her life, she can get a serious disease. As a result, Minerva has taken a good look at her life and does not like it. She has been taking serious steps to change it. She has given notice at work. Her next challenge: how to make a living doing something she loves. Solutions for Minerva.
	The Ready but Weary Expert Maggie used to be in an abusive relationship and suffered from chronic depression for years. Her healing journey soon became a new career, and she became a social worker. That was 10 years ago. As a social worker, she is passionate about helping her clients, who love her. Maggie has two secrets: the first one is her healing powers, inherited from her grandmother. She dreams of becoming a healer and opening a healing center. The second secret is that Maggie has been keeping journals of her healing journey. She has intuitively worked out a path to help heal depression and overcome abusive relationships. But Maggie is burnt out with so many clients and so little pay. She has decided to take action. She knows she has an expert system in her hands, and she knows how good she is in her field. Her questions is "where do I go from here?" Solutions for Maggie.
	The Jammed Expert Sonia is a business-savvy expert who teaches women how to create their own business and make money. She has a blooming clientele, but she's stuck. Why? She draws a blank when it comes to creating ebooks and written products. The problem? Too much information, too little time to write it. The truth runs deeper. Sonia was eight when she left her homeland to live in the United States. As a little girl, she was teased in the classroom for her accent and for her inability to write at the same level of her classmates. From that moment on, Sonia developed a resistance to writing, and it has undermined her financial progress. Sonia's passion and knowledge are getting jammed, with no way out, and she needs to pump out products or she is going to burst! Not to mention that her clients are asking for products they can use and are getting frustrated! Solutions for Sonia.
	The Exceptional Expert Marlene is a well-known expert who has mustered a considerable clientele and excellent media recognition. The problem is precisely that. With so much work, how can she write the book that will propel her into the next level? Between her clients and her family, she has little time to do this, but the worse obstacle is that when she tries to write, she either freezes or rambles for hours. This takes too long! Don't tell anyone, but there are two secrets Marlene is carrying, and the weight doesn't let her write. One: she is a perfectionist. This doesn't' help. Two: the book she really wants to write is deeper than what is being thrown out there by "celebrities" in her field. It's more than a how-to manual. The book in her heart demands a soulful journey and a level of authoring skill she feels she doesn't posses. Did I mention she has little free time to write? Solutions for Marlene.

Let's look at solutions to these women's obstacles.

The Disgruntled, Clueless Expert

The first obstacle for many women is that they do not realize that they can go out of the mold to create something different. Sarah is not seeing that she has the power to change the scripts not only in her personal, but in her professional life. It's not only possible, but it's being done right now by other women.

If you identified with Sarah, you need to wake up from the Domestication Trance. This is the disempowering aspect of socialization that traps you in old scripts, limiting your perception of possibility. The problem is that you've been trained NOT to see these possibilities breathing outside your Comfort Zone. You become afraid of even peeking at these possibilities. So you keep going and keep complaining, until you get fired, get sick or get strong enough to change.

If you are disgruntled with your job and feel impotent to change it, you are simply trapped in an inherited Dream that you see as the only possible reality. Wake up.

Sarah is an expert in mothering. She is an expert editor and writer. She knows the magazine publishing world inside out. What would happen if Sarah woke up and tore the blindfolds covering her eyes? These blindfolds show her a limited world in which she is someone else's employee. They don't let her see that her passion is really her mission. They don't let her value her mothering experience as an expertise. She is fragmented, and therefore cannot see how all her passion, experience and skills form a congruent design. This design is her Service Vision.

Sarah has a perfect life design. She is the ideal expert to open an online magazine and super-website for mothers. There, she can control the role of advertisers and concentrate on servicing women. She can share her expert knowledge and feature powerful women. But before she can even begin to see or accept this vision, Sarah needs to know herself, face her fears and release her limitations.

The first step for Sarah is to make time and space for herself and her dream. She needs to look at the issues that make her feel trapped and she needs to see her options. If you are in Sarah's shoes, you need to find your uniqueness, awaken your personal power and free your voice. Since you, like Sarah probably like to write (or you wouldn't be here), you can do this process through writing.

I have created Free your Power Songä for the Disgruntled, Clueless Experts. Read more about this basic coaching.

The Disowned Expert

The second obstacle for many women is that they do not realize that they are experts.

If you identify with Minerva, you are trapped in Learned Limits of Perception that do not allow you to see yourself in a radically different light. Let's look at a real woman who has done in real life what Minerva does not even begin to imagine. This is Marian Wright Edelman.

Ms. Edelman is a lifelong advocate for disadvantaged Americans and is the Founder and President of the Children's Defense Fund (CDF). Under her leadership, CDF has become the nation’s strongest voice for children and families. Their reports and campaign From Cradle to Prison Pipeline are having a great effect in creating social awareness of how the justice system has failed minorities. What is the difference between Minerva and Marian Wright Edelman?

Obviously, Ms. Edelman has more years in her field than Minerva. This is something that Minerva cannot change right now. But what Minerva can do is begin to see Ms. Edelman as a role model. You too, need to look for role models who are living a similar dream to yours. Knowing that it is possible, and getting some ideas of how it can be done, will demolish your Learned Limits of Perception. Once that happens, you begin to see the awesome power and strong expertise you have amassed.

If Minerva can shift her perception to assume her Expert Self, she can create her own expert strategy, position herself as an expert and launch an organization, project, campaign or website to promote her cause.

The difference between Minerva and Ms. Edelman is summed up in three words: belief, book and bravery.

If you are walking in Minerva's shoes, you need to believe that your dream is possible. You need to see yourself as an expert, to see your message reaching people, to feel and know the importance of your message and believe that you can do it. You need faith.

Then you need to write a book and learn how to use that book to position yourself as an expert, network with other organizations and leaders and create additional streams of income.

A glance at Ms. Edelman's model reveals that she is a prolific writer who has authored more than five books, and has also created audio books, DVDs and other products. These books and her work with her organization allow her to be a frequent speaker and media guest. Her visibility helps her to promote her cause and take her message to millions.

Once Minerva creates her own Service Vision based on Ms. Edelman's model or other role models, she will be able to create her own book and attract media coverage. This will give her credibility to get funding and support. It will also attract the media and network allies, as well as potential corporate sponsors.

Finally, Minerva, and you, need to walk through fear and leap into the Dream. This is easier said than done. But you do not have to do it alone. As a book-writing, life coach and experienced shaman, I not only teach you how to do it, but I feed your courage and faith. I have created Assume your Expert Selfä for the Disowned Experts. Read more about this intermediate coaching.

The Ready but Weary Expert

Once you begin to seriously work on your dream, you may face a third obstacle. This is not knowing what to do first, and how to create a structure that gives substance to your dream.

If you identified with Maggie, you may already know your gifts and talents and may even have an intuitive or organized expert system. But you cannot visualize a Service Vision that provides the structure you need to do what you do in a way that also brings you satisfaction and money. This makes your Dream seem fuzzy and all the possibilities or tasks become overwhelming, resulting in paralysis or avoidance.

There are three type of obstacles to your dreams. The first type are emotional and perceptual. If you release the fears and expand the limited perceptions you have inherited, you will find your way. You need help, support and inspiration to address these obstacles.

Maggie needs help in addressing the obstacles that do not allow her to answer her own questions. She may need to revisit her healing journey to release some aspects of her old self. She may need to nurture her self-confidence.

The second type of obstacles are habits. If you create self-sabotaging habitual behavior, it can put a stop to your dream. You need consistent practice and on-going coaching to change your self-sabotaging behavior. You also need knowledge to understand how it works and how you can change it.

Maggie needs someone who can help her organize her time and priorities, and to build a Dream Discipline, so that she can use her time to manifest her dream.

The third type of obstacle is lack of skills.

Maggie needs a book writing expert who helps her write the book that will convey her expert system to others. She also needs to know how to create her expert online presence.

If you or Maggie try to do all of this, you may spent a fortune and several years with different experts. Or you may take the program I've created, where I help you write the book, express the system and get business-ready, in one year. I have created Assume your Expert Selfä for the Ready but Weary Experts. Read more about this intermediate coaching.

The Jammed Expert

Women who are already working actively towards their dream, may bump into another obstacle. No matter how much of a superwoman you are, you can't do it all alone and at once! You need help. You need coaching. You need new skills and emotional support.

Sonia may be facing not only writing blockages, but blockages caused by her belief about what a good book is, what she needs to offer her clients, and how long this takes. She needs emotional support to let go of old hidden beliefs from the past. She also needs to be coached through a process that offers her a template to pump out good ebooks and products effortlessly. Sonia's expertise is needed, and her clients are getting tired of waiting. If she doesn't provide the products they need, they may go to another expert who does. This is a priority, but Sonia keeps procrastinating.

Sonia, if you read this, go quickly to this page. You need The Ebook Rabbitä Crash Course. Read more about the Ebook Rabbit Crash Course.

The Exceptional Expert

Here you are, living your dream already. How come you're still fighting those Inner Enemies of your Successä?

Because you are not perfect Marlene, and you don't have to be.

Women who are already living their dream, sometimes get entangled in a key task of power. This knot does not allow them to fully develop their potential. They are so close, yet they are missing an essential factor.

If you identify with Marlene, you've come a long way. There is a lot at stake for you now. This may bring new anxiety levels. You also don't have that much time. Furthermore, how can you know who to trust? With all these doubts and high stakes, perfectionism kicks in, and you begin to back out of that next step: the writing of your exceptional book. You know this book is not an easy fix for your clients. You can and want to do better. You want a book with a heart. Your Inner Critic warns you that you don't have the writing skills, or the time. "This is too difficult," she says. "You don't have the time."

Send your Inner Critic and Perfectionist on a loooong vacation. You've just found the book-writing coach you need. I designed Book Writing for Exceptional Expertsä for the Exceptional Expert who wants to write a book with a heart. Read more about this Advance coaching.

Conclusion

Wherever you are in your journey of expertise, even if you can't imagine yourself as an expert yet, or if you are frustrated or scared about the next steps in your life, know these five truths. They will keep you safe and lead the way.

You hold important knowledge and experience in your hands. This knowledge and experience has been placed in your hands for your own evolution and for the benefit of others. Trust this.
No one sees the world quite like you. You solutions and experience may bring a unique twist or path that others need. Don't compare yourself with what's out there, unless it's to find your uniqueness and create a strategy. That which sets you apart is what makes you special.
All your experience, even your mistakes and emotional wounds, are part of the Sacred Design that allows you to offer your Gift Bundle to the world. Embrace it. Reflect on it. See the design. If you follow this design, you will succeed.
Nothing is as difficult as it seems when we are procrastinating. On hind sight, the true difficulty was our fear. Do not feed fear by procrastinating. Seek help. Take action. This will feed your courage.
You are not alone. There is help. Asking help or guidance is not weakness. It is wisdom.

Armed with these five truths and aware of which expertise stage you are facing, you can release the obstacles you face and make your dream come true in ONE YEAR. Thinks about it. Next year you may be in the next stage of expertise. Next year you may have become your dream! What are you waiting for?

The End

Reprint Permission: You are welcome to reprint this article as long as you keep all links within it and the copyright and biographical paragraph below, with all links intact, and you send us a link to the page where you published the article.

Maria Mar(c)

The Dream Alchemist

http://www.writetodream.com

Maria Mar is known as the Dream Alchemist for the power of her writing and her art to help women stay true to their dreams and potential. She is living evidence that you can realize all your potential. A true renaissance woman, she is a PBS-featured performer, published author, poet, shaman, visual artist, life coach, book-writing coach, speaker, storyteller and spiritual teacher. If you want Maria to help you release the obstacles to your dream, visit www.catchthedreamexpress.com. For help writing to heal, to transform your life or to achieve success in your field, visit: http://www.writetodream.com. Meet Maria and enjoy the advice of experts and writers' at Write to Dream Radio Show.

Maria Mar

The Dream Alchemist

I inspire and guide passionate women who are determined to make their dreams come true to use writing, creativity and conscious living in order to break through barriers and attract the life of their dreams.

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