What is the deal? Why is it so important for everyone to be a Master, Guru or Expert these days?!
What is the problem with just being yourself and letting the rest make its own sense, its own connection with others?
Do we really need people to have secondary labels highlighting an elevated status. You can't just be someone who drives, you have to be an expert driver. What does that even mean? When you meet Nick and find out he has renovated three houses, that information on its own is of less value unless someone introduces Nick as a Master Renovator. Is that right? Josie - Chef Extraordinaire is someone important but Josie, a person who cooks for a family of 5 daily as well as catering to years of family functions, not so much!
How do you even choose your best title? If Martin can no longer just love making and baking cupcakes to be regarded as someone good at it, is he better as a Baked delights Expert or Cupcake King?
Extending beyond the tangible world of renovations and cupcakes, even people employed to follow couples or families on televised happiness journeys are no longer good enough in their usual title "Psychologist". They are transformed into superior quality "Relationship Experts". A gardener who decides to publish a blog and inspire others with their challenges and successes in the garden is now a Guru Gardener. What happened? If the passion and consistency was there before, was it going on a televised show or going online that made them so much better than anyone else watching? Or is it all just desperation? a need to somehow get noticed and more attention?
When a person moves from doing what they do well, to a personality who is going to deliver information and passion combined on a tv, radio or other media pathway - is there a worry that they won't be revered enough? Is it desperation that makes the person not good enough? Their job not fancy enough? So - adding the extra word in the title, does that person suddenly become more liked, revered and respected. Add a heightening, lifting or set apart word to the persons name or description and the public will like them more. Want to watch or read them more. Trust them more. Is that the competition now? Trust Matt more than Andy. Think Sophie is a better cook than Jo. Does anyone really know what this obsession is for?
Greater credibility? More trust? or something to do with being liked more?
Anyone who writes a book is an author extraordinaire or bestseller. Anyone who has a blog is a travel expert or technology guru. Whatever the personality, whatever the focus - that individual becomes 'the best'.
It would appear that there is a problem with simply being you. Happily and contentedly yourself, being the best you can be in that moment without an additional tag or label. Certainly, we all have incredible strengths and skills and if they are on display or shared in some way, people will experience that and feel it, know it. Is the label necessary? Do we trust that person more because they are a Master renovator, relationship expert or dessert king? Do we? really?
Do we listen more? Do we learn or copy more because of the label? I'm sure there is a study somewhere that says we do. However, like some pharmaceutical studies out there - is it the hidden or unreferred data that also shows that after a period of 'working', there comes a time where the drama doesn't work anymore?!
I have a feeling that these descriptions are not working to attract more people anymore. I have a few of my own thoughts.
Imagine that in the future, no single person needed to be better, stronger, larger or more awesome in order to impress anyone nor to attract more people to their product, platform or youtube channel. Imagine that we could have a title, a heading, a catch cry - as soon as we knew our strength, our service and how we wished to connect with others or complete our services, our jobs.
So, Bob the gardener would be just as perfect as Tina Dog walker, and just as good to know that Mira, Pet carer or George, home problems solver were there to call on. No experts needed, simply people who by doing what they love are being of perfect service to anyone they work with. In this way, they gain experience and become better, stronger and stay on track.
Let us get the thesaurous out and find some more words which can elevate but also potentially integrate more truth and integrity into the title. Is it possible that combining facts with honesty and may generate more genuine trust in an audience, a reader or viewer?
Admittedly it may need a bit of testing, to check if it sits right with you. However at the end of the day it may be that integrity stays with you for the long haul, leaving the buzz of drama way behind.
So Nick - The Tall Renovator - likes renovating places and stands over 6'3 TICK
Mari - The Meal Maker - Makes family style meal and events too - TICK
Jo - Relationship Fixer - Psychologist loves fixing relationships - TICK
What about you? What would your real title be?
I'm thinking that for most of us, not being specialist queens, kings, gurus or extraordinnaires, we probably don't wonder or worry too often about our title. Quite often we are happy enough with the title our job gives us - teacher, doctor, nurse, accountant and so it goes on. But if you did - what would you like it to say?
I don't have to be the Best Mum Ever to be happy. I'm happy knowing my daughter likes me being her mum and talks to me as someone she can trust, share grumpy times or challenging times with while knowing she is loved, listened to and supported by me.
My focus in life and with my children has always been to support the individual, their strengths, their inner selves and their emotional wellbeing. I would even look forward to a different range of products based on appreciation rather than elevation. Forget the "Best Mum Ever" mug, I'd feel content seeing my daughter choose to make a travel mug, used every day, with one of my photos on it simply labelled 'mama'.
