GURUS?

*Gurus*

*Thought leaders*

*Experts*

These labels have developed a bit of stigma around them.

If we are going down the labelling route, how about:

- Experienced Professionals

- Advisers

- Business Leaders

- Coaches

To me these are more accurate.

They're not proclamations of being 'THE' authority on any given topic.

1 million followers - so what? If someone is off the mark, it's irrelevant.

Opinions and insights, based largely on experience, are far too subjective for such boundless, grandiose titles.

A 'thought leader' sounds ephereal, almost philosophical.

What actually works in the real world?

Self-appointed titles rub people up the wrong way.

Announcing yourself as an 'expert' just doesn't seem right. In my mind it should only come externally.

Even then it can be misleading.

Who says they're an authority?

Maybe they're often biased, sometimes wrong, or simply misguided on particular topics.

Perhaps they stopped learning new things in the late 90s when they decided they already knew everything.

Socrates was most likely closer to the truth:

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing."

We need to stop labelling so much.

People entrust 'experts' or 'gurus' without ever questioning their guidance or opinions.

Often they're taken as fact - the gospel truth - without any further analysis or investigation.

This is dangerous territory.

It means people turn into unthinking sheep who lose their critical thinking abilities.

Don't give your power away so easily by acquiescing and blindly agreeing.

Do your own research.

Find what works for you.

And question everything.

Especially 'experts' or 'gurus'.