I was reminded about a story by a posting I read at VentureBlog
The story is about two guests at a dinner party. Both were older men at the end of their careers and looking towards retirement.
The first man asks, "So what do you do?"
The second replies, "I am an author".
"Really? Have you been successful?"
"Well I have have never hit the big time, however most of my books have sold quite well".
"Well done" replied the First. "It's interesting you say that because I was thinking of becoming a writer when I retire".
"Wonderful. So what do you do now?"
The first replied, "I am a neurosurgeon."
"What a coincidence!" remarked the first, "I was thinking of doing some neurosurgery when I retire."
Ridiculous of course. Neurosurgery takes years of study, practice and discipline.
Accomplished authors have learnt that being an author is exactly the same. It takes years of study, practice and discipline.
Being an author is one of those occupations that we can all do a little bit. This familiarity blinds us to the great distance between the amateurs and the experts. It is the same distance that separates the amateur photographer from the expert, the amateur cook from the experts, the amateur musician from the expert or the amateur designer from the expert.
It is the same for business coaches and management development professionals. Both of these professions are crafts which require study, practice and dedication. Knowing about business or management doesn't make someone a management development professional or coach any more than knowing how to write makes a great author.
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