While I was flying back from a meditative yoga retreat at the Esalen Institute the Airline left for me a Wired Magazine. It had an inspiring article by TVs Stephen Colbert called "Be An Expert on Anything".
In it were 11 tips on how to present yourself as an expert. To my amazement I have fulfilled more than I could have imagined. I've listed them and added my own comments to them.
If you want the whole article get the August 2006 edition.
1. Pick a field that can't be Verified.
Enough said.
2. Choose a subject that's actually secret.
Ditto Number 1.
3. Get your own entry in an encyclopedia.
Frankly, I don't want to take the time. If you want to do it you can start with www.wikipedia.com
4. Use the work zietgiest. Avoid the word "paradigm".
This is really about keeping a finger on the pulse of popular culture.
5. Be sure to use lots of abbreviations and acronyms.
6. Speak from the balls, not from the diaphragm.
This means speaking with ballsy confidence.
7. Don't be afraid to make things up.
See number 6. If you're an expert then you're expert enough to make things up.
8. Don't limit yourself to current knowledge.
Old knowledge is good especially if it's outdated and forgotten. In fact it's better than contemporary knowledge because it proves you are renaissance man.
9. Get an honorary PHD.
I'm working on that.
10. Make a habit of name dropping.
11. Be famous, it helps.
If you can be famous you can present yourself as if you are famous.
As far as #9 goes, you can find a few places online that will give you ThD's at will. It's not a PhD, but, hey, it's still a doctorate, and you don't have to do anything but ask for it. It doesn't get any easier than that!
ReplyDelete- John