Summary

The article discusses the legitimacy of teaching subjects one is still mastering, suggesting that imperfect expertise can be valuable for students who are just beginning their journey.

Abstract

The article titled "You, The Fraud?" addresses the common concern of whether it is acceptable to teach a topic that one has not fully mastered. It presents the story of Anne, a woman who feels like a fraud for considering teaching subjects like finding a life partner and achieving abundance, despite not having reached her own goals in these areas. The article argues that perfection is not a prerequisite for teaching and that individuals often underestimate the value of their current level of knowledge and experience. It emphasizes that being a few steps ahead can make one more relatable and approachable as a teacher, and that the journey towards mastery is itself a valuable perspective to share. The article encourages potential educators to overcome the fear of imperfection, to create and share their knowledge, and to help others take their first steps towards their goals.

Opinions

Teaching a subject does not require one to have achieved ultimate perfection or success in that area.
Individuals often forget the progress they've made and the value of their current knowledge, focusing too much on what they haven't achieved.
Being slightly ahead of someone can make the learning process more accessible and less intimidating for students.
The idea of "perfection" is a fallacy that can disconnect teachers from students who are just starting out.
Sharing knowledge and experiences from one's journey can be more beneficial than providing guidance from a point of distant expertise.
Coaches and teachers do not need to possess the highest level of skill in their field to be effective; sometimes, being further along the path is more relatable and inspiring.
The article encourages readers to teach what they know, despite their imperfections, as there is always someone who can benefit from their insights.

You, The Fraud?

Why You Should Teach Things You’re Still Struggling With

Is it right to teach something if you haven’t accomplished it yet?

For example, can you teach someone how to find a life partner…if you’re single?

Can you teach someone how to have abundance…if you’re still struggling with your finances?

Over the last few weeks, I’ve worked with a friend who wants to teach exactly the topics above…but still hasn’t achieved her ultimate goals in those areas of her life.

Anne (not her real name) felt that it was wrong to teach something you haven’t mastered yourself. She said that even thinking of doing so made her feel like a fraud.

When she would consider putting her courses out there, she imagined people asking her, “What about you? Have you achieved this goal?” She felt a great deal of shame around the issue, so she avoided it altogether and never sold her courses.

“What right do I have to teach this?” She asked me.

During our second session working on this issue of avoidance, something came up that I thought you might appreciate.

Perfection

Anne thought that in order to call yourself an expert on something, you had to be perfect. Otherwise, why would anyone want to listen to you?

So we came up with a few ideas that can serve anyone in this same predicament -

Anyone who feels like a fraud when they share their knowledge because they haven’t reached their goals yet.

Think you aren’t good enough to share what you know? Think again!

Maybe you can’t show someone how to achieve the ultimate, highest version of a goal…but can you at least show them how to get to where you are?

When we go through personal growth, we often forget how far we’ve already come. Things that used to be huge problems aren’t even a blip on our radar anymore.

So it’s easy to look at your life and think about everything you haven’t accomplished. But to someone who hasn’t even started…you’re way ahead of the curve and have a lot to give!

In fact, we can take this a step further and say:

Sometimes, being at the “perfect” level turns people off more than where you are now.

It’s harder for someone to see themselves getting to your level when you’re so far ahead. It’s much easier to look at someone who’s just a few steps ahead and think, “Okay, yeah, I think I can get there.”

Better yet…if you’re really a mess…they might look at you and think, “If THEY can do it…I certainly can!”

When you do achieve “perfection” (which is a fallacy — there is no such thing as perfection), you tend to forget where you came from.

This is the same issue I brought up before. Once you’ve overcome so many hurdles, you tend to forget what they were. Then, it’s harder to really connect with someone who’s just starting out.

As someone who has gone through some growth, you have a much better chance of giving people who are following in your footsteps what they need.

Finally, consider this:

It’s easier to see things from a distance.

Think about the best coaches in the world. The guys and gals who work with the top athletes in their field. They cannot possibly do what they teach.

In fact, if you put the best boxing coach in the ring…they’d be knocked out in seconds.

What to Do Now

Step 1: Think about the topic you’ve been wanting to teach. The course you never built. The training videos you never created.

Step 2: Build it. Record it. Write it down. Teach what you know.

Step 3: Get it out there to anyone who needs it.

There is someone out there who hasn’t even started on their journey towards the goal.

So help them take the first step.