The Business of Expertise

By: David C. Baker

Narrated by: David C. Baker

Publisher's summary

This passionate expertise manifesto is intended to elevate the impact of advisors who sell insight as entrepreneurs. Three foundational chapters form the basis of the entire audiobook: Experts develop insight by isolating patterns in data; they convert those insights to wealth by crafting a unique positioning for which few available substitutes exist; and their confidence grows as the marketplace embraces their application of expertise. The next 15 chapters - building on that foundation - each answer a single question, starting with the role of expertise in a developed society, how important it is for experts to love the hard work required to hone their expertise, and how to see all that in the context of their own purpose in the world.

We pause to dig deeper by examining the very narrow overlap between expertise and entrepreneurship: the narrow slice of humanity for which this audiobook was written, with a nod to how easy it is for those entrepreneurial experts to be pulled off mission to explore new things. What are the critical positioning mistakes to avoid? Are there helpful ways to keep your deep, narrow expertise from blinding you to a broader, wider relevance? How might you frame your expertise in horizontal or vertical terms or a combination of both? There are core principles for this, and they start with distinguishing between strategy and implementation. What are the earlier and then later tests to validate your positioning? What are the most effective ways to demonstrate your expertise and, conversely, the activities most important to avoid? If you are an entrepreneurial expert selling advice for a living, you ll absorb deeper and deeper insight each time you scour it. It emerges from the trenches and is written for experts in the trenches.

©2017 David C. Baker (P)2018 David C. Baker

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By samuel on 09-25-23

Great experience sharing and stories

Perfect to get a refresher on consulting basics based on expertise. Slightly lengthy but worth it!

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Amazing Brian on 05-05-20

Now this a great book!

If you would like to create your own brand, charge more for what you do, and or become the Apple or Jordan of your industry, this book is it. i was finally able to increase my fees and not feel bad about it. I increased my coaching fees by 3X and immediately got a client!.

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Hanz Zarate on 11-26-22

I’m a tattooer

If you are in a business that requires a specialist.. this is the book to get; It’s gold

Show more Show less

4 out of 5 stars

By Quintel on 12-24-23

Solid & concise

Solid over arching concepts. Not tactical but if you take good notes you can for sure implement some of his teaching and get good results. The Vertical and Horizontal expertise descriptions are helpful.

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Michael S. Blake on 02-13-21

Excellent and thought provoking book

This book very much resonated with me. Great actionable advice and a wonderful mentoring tone.

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Troy K. on 12-31-20

For a fluttering professional ...

This is the type of book at allows a fluttering professional to center oneself and learn how to truly take the steps needed to becoming an expert in your field.

It feels specifically catered to the marketing and advertising field, as that’s where Baker derives his professional work, but that’s also the lens in which I listen as well. I suppose it would remain true for anyone seeking relevance and expertise nonetheless.

It doesn’t seem like another one of those books where the author pumped out their 12th based on a new thought or theory. This is a life’s work. You can tell Baker sat down to write this book only after he spent years and years exploring this topic. I love when authors have something new, unique, and deep to share. Baker did with this book.

Take notes. There are nuggets throughout.

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Avi on 11-28-21

Best book I have studied on positioning. Must Read

Study this book! Best book I have studied on positioning. Must Read for entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, experts.

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Kindle Customer on 01-03-21

great book, great for business owners , agency own

Great book for business owners , agency owners , creative entrepreneurs. learnt a lot from this book

Show more Show less

5 out of 5 stars

By Wayne Lamarre on 10-28-21

Thoughtful and well articulated

You can tell this book was born from a great depth of experience, study and contemplation. I throughly enjoy his thinking, writing and speaking style.

As an aside, I’m grateful he was the narrator for the audible.

Show more Show less

4 out of 5 stars

By Professional Customer on 10-11-23

You'll love it or hate it: It's positioned!

My next statement will sound arrogant, so apologies in advance. You may not yet have deep, marketable expertise - or be working on the problem it will help you solve - if the message of this book doesn't resonate with you. I've seen reviews suggesting this book has a generic, unsatisfying message. In fact, those readers had an expectation which the author never promised to meet. Moreover, in contrast to some reviews suggesting the book is too long and overly verbose, it would seem that the author is, in fact not detailed enough for them. It's an accepted fact that it is easier to use more words than fewer when crafting a clear message, and yet winsome, concise communication demonstrates greater expertise. With this book, the author both shows and tells the expert positioning work of expertise. It's a kind of horizontal positioning, rather than vertical, which necessarily comes off less precise or clear to someone wanting a playbook and how to position THEIR vertical's version of such expertise.

Show more Show less