“The only thing holding you back is the belief that something is holding you back.”

-Kaitlyn Walsh

Beginning

If ever there was a common thread among many Subject Matter Experts, it’s the title of this article. The longer you’re involved in your area of expertise, the more likely that thought is to surface, regardless of your field. 

You might think it’s an obvious answer – start at the beginning, most basic level – your definition may be different from someone initially coming to your expertise. 

Really?

Even if you successfully embrace the beginners’ mind as an effective, logical starting point, you might start doubting yourself. Is the beginning too basic to represent the many years you’ve dug deeper and deeper into your subject? You then focus on a more intermediate level, beyond your newcomers’ grasp.

Is this feeling familiar? It may be negatively impacting your sales of books, articles, audios, website visitors, workshops,and other products and services without you realizing it. 

Solutions

Fear not. There are solutions, complete with a slew of benefits for you and those eager to learn from you. 

1.Start by writing an article of about 500 words. This is for a reader or listener who knows nothing about your topic.

2. Capture your article in a recording device as if speaking it to an audience.This addresses two learning styles of reading and listening.

3. Choose 3 or 4 people who are above average intelligence and have no knowledge of your topic. They could be anyone, including a family member who has never understood what you do!

4. Ask them to read the article then listen to the recording. Their assignment is to tell you what they thought the information was about.

5. Assure them they are helping you and there is no “right” answer. That elevates their ego because you are asking them for their help.

Outcomes

There are several useful outcomes to this process.

• Some may be clueless about what the article and recording said. It’s their first exposure to that information.

• Others might find the information somewhat familiar. They haven’t used it in a while so your article and recording reminded them of something they forgot.

• A third possibility is your article and recording reinforced that they already knew what you shared. They feel great from that confirmation by an expert.

Those outcomes are useful to remember when you’re concerned about your content being too basic.

Benefit

Here’s the really important and wonderful benefit. Once the beginners learn your basic level content, you become a trusted resource. They want what else you have. They come back for the next level of information. You will have that available in your next product or service.  You continue to serve them, and they thank you with their gratitude and credit card!

© 2025, Paulette Ensign   All Rights Reserved

Paulette Ensign The Tips Products Strategist

Paulette is the Founder and The Tips Content Strategist at Tips Products International (the parent company of the wholly-owned subsidiary, Tips Products Publishing Agency.) Paulette has over forty years’ experience with small and mid-size business owners, corporations, and professional associations in numerous industries, worldwide. She and her team look forward to traveling part of your journey with you and serving you as she happily and proudly continues to defy getting old while getting older.