The Expert and the Sheepherder

One of my challenges as a public speaker is that people think I'm an expert. While I do have something to say in my area of expertise, I don't have everything to say in my area of expertise.

To make things worse, many “experts” have more degrees than a thermometer, which can be intimidating. But that doesn't make them experts in everything, just an expert in their thing. Besides, many experts who believe they are experts in everything become just that – ‘ex-spurts!'

When I fly internationally, I am frequently asked by the flight attendants who see my ‘Dr. Edwin Delph’ on the flight docket, “Are you a medical doctor?” My response is, “I’m an academic doctor. You don’t want me checking your blood pressure. Most likely, I would say your blood pressure is John 3:16.” 

Allow me to explain further. This story came from an email I received a few years ago.

Once upon a time, a sheepherder was tending his sheep at the edge of a country road in rural Wyoming. A brand-new Jeep Grand Cherokee screeched to a halt next to him. The driver, a young man dressed in a Brioni suit, Cerruti shoes, Ray-Ban glasses, Jovial Swiss wristwatch, and a BHS tie, jumped out and asked the herder, "If I guess how many sheep you have, will you give me one of them?" The herder looked at the young man, then the sprawling herd of grazing sheep, and said, "Okay."

The young man parked the SUV, connected his notebook and wireless modem, entered a NASA site, scanned the ground using satellite imagery and a GPS, opened a database and 60 Excel tables filled with algorithms, and then printed a 150-page report on his high-tech mini printer. He turned to the herder and said, "You have 1,586 sheep here." The herder answered, "Say, you are right. Pick out a sheep." The young man took one of the animals and put it in the back of his vehicle.

As he was preparing to drive away, the herder looked at him and asked, "Now, if I guess your profession, will you pay me back in kind?" The young man answered, "Sure!" The herder said immediately, "You are a consultant." "Exactly! How did you know?" asked the young man.

"Very simple," replied the herder. "First, you came here without being invited. Secondly, you charged me a fee to tell me something I already knew. Thirdly, you do not understand anything about my business, and I'd really like to have my dog back." Talk about an 'ex-spurt.' However, I do appreciate the consultant's enthusiasm and choice of clothes.

Of course, there is a place for experts, but let me repeat: no one is an expert in every area. I get this when some folks want to talk to me about God or church. Suddenly, they become experts, theologians, and Bible teachers in an area they know little about. In their eyes, they are experts - their opinions are formed by who knows what, why, how, or where. To me, that’s like me telling the scientist at a nuclear facility how to do their job. If the scientist took my ‘expert’ advice, we all would be glowing blue right now. 

We earthlings tend to do the expert thing on many varieties of subjects, don't we? We presume or assume rather than becoming more informed. Here in the United States, we're plunging into an election year. Everyone will think they are experts on political things, government, and politicians. The problem is people believe them. As the old cowboy said, “Water ain’t gonna’ clear up until you get the pigs out of the creek!" 

Proverbs 1:5 says, "A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a person of understanding will acquire wise counsel." In other words, in areas where we are not experts, let’s realize the necessity of becoming a learner. That's hard for us self-proclaimed experts. Aristotle, a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, said, "A fool contributes nothing worth hearing and takes offense at everything.” Wow, what’s happening now has happened before. 

Would you like to limit some drama in your life? If the answer is yes, become an expert at being a learner. Be teachable, not offended. Be civil and be civilized. And remember this: A mind is like a parachute; it works best when it's open. Great people and leaders know they’re not the smartest person in the room. Before you try to change everyone else, remember how hard it is to change yourself.

What’s our takeaway? Someone once said, “Changing the scenery won’t alter the story unless we rewrite the script within ourselves.” I wonder if that sheepherder ever got his dog back.