The Illusion of Expertise. There is a hard truth. The Secret Every Expert Learns: You Don’t Know It Until You Teach It
We all love to think we’ve “mastered” something.
But mastery without teaching is illusion.
The real test of knowledge is this: can you explain it simply enough for others to apply?
This is my story.
Many years ago, I received a simple letter from the Institute for Financial Services (then The Chartered Institute of Bankers), London.
It was only 149 words long, yet it reshaped my destiny.
One line stood out:
“If you want to keep in touch with a subject, try teaching it.”
That statement was a spark.
I began teaching.
First, Elements of Banking,
Then Leadership, Project Management,
And later, Enterprise Architecture.
What began as a way to “keep in touch” became a lifelong calling.
When I began teaching as a young banker, I discovered how shallow my “expertise” was.
Every question from a student revealed a gap.
Every class forced me to grow.
Teaching Is the Mirror of Mastery
That’s why I say: you don’t truly know it until you teach it.
Teaching organizes your thinking.
It demands clarity, empathy, and humility.
And it converts what you know into what you own.
The Fastest Path to Growth
Whether you’re a doctor, designer, or founder – teach something.
- Host a webinar.
- Start a mini-course.
- Share a short guide on LinkedIn.
The moment you teach, you evolve.
And when you evolve, others follow.
So – what will you teach next?
Start where you are.
Let the world learn from your experience.
PS: In the past one decade I’ve taught and groomed over 10,000 professionals and subject matter experts in various fields to become expert trainers. I have also coached over 750 to become authors and learn how to grow business online. Mentors who I looked up to have attended my Book Writing Clinic, which continue to surprise me. Don’t underestimate the power of teaching. It’s a meta-skill. If you’d like to join my Book Writing Clinic or any of my other programs, let me guide you on what’s best for you by having a 15 minutes chat with me. Click this link to book a chat: http://bit.ly/3V9DCqk
