You are an expert.  Don’t think so?  I’m here to tell you, there is something you know more about than most people, and that makes you an expert.  People tend to have this view of “experts” that puts them on a pedestal and sets them apart from us mere mortals.  The truth is, they’re no different from you and me.  They simply have knowledge about a particular subject, and they have decided to share that knowledge with the world.  Really, what makes them recognized as experts more than anything else is that they call themselves experts and put their expertise out there long enough that others begin referring to them in that way.

So what’s your expertise, and how do you capitalize on it so you can be a paid expert?  For some, identifying your expertise is easy.  You already know you’re an expert, so you just need to take it and run with it.  For others, there might be some doubt as to whether they’re truly an expert at anything.  If that’s the case, ask yourself a few questions:

1.   What’s the one thing your friends and family come to you for help with?  Maybe it’s which cell phone, computer or printer they should buy.  Maybe it’s how to keep their plants healthy, or what to do to house-break their new puppy.  Or maybe they just come to you when they have problems because you’re a great listener or give good advice.

2.   What do you enjoy doing?  Or, better yet, what’s your passion?  It could be gardening, blogging, rock-climbing, writing computer code, or fishing.  What it is doesn’t matter.  The important thing is how you feel about it.  Even if it’s just being a good neighbor, or a parent, if it’s what gets you excited, that’s what you want to identify.

3.   If you’re currently employed (or were previously employed), what do/did you do well in your job that others who aren’t in your field would like to learn about?  Or, if you’re really good at your job, would others who are in your field like to be as good as you?  For example, let’s say you’re an office manager.  You aren’t necessarily passionate about being an office manager, but you know you’re the best there is at it.  There are others who are either new in the field or struggling to succeed at your job who would consider you an expert.

Once you’ve answered these questions, you have some idea of what you’re an expert at.  You might be thinking, “Well, yeah, I love cats, and my friends all come to me when they have cat questions, but how could I possibly make any money at that?”  That’s a great question, and you need to understand one thing:  It literally doesn’t matter what your area of expertise is.  It can turn into a revenue stream, and even an information empire, if you choose to take it there.  With the advent of the Internet and the exploding popularity of social media, your reach is practically infinite.  You have access to millions of people interested in your area of passion, whatever it is.

Because there are a billion+ people online, you only need a tiny fraction of the potential market to share your interest.  If you absolutely love collecting coffee cups, you can bet there are a million or more others out there who love it just as much as you do.  What that means is that there are a million+ people who will identify with you, and a portion of those will even be willing to spend money to get the inside scoop on your ideas.

So how do you take your expertise and make it your business?  First, the bad news: It’s not going to happen overnight.  If you’re looking for a way to make a quick million, this path will only get you there if you’re an already-recognized expert on a wildly popular topic, or a celebrity with an established following.  The good news is that with some patience and perseverance, you can turn any passion into a full time business.  And with some outside-the-box thinking and creativity, you can indeed make it a multi-million-dollar enterprise.

Hopefully, you’re now convinced that you are an expert and that you can in fact make a living as an expert.  Stay tuned for part 2 (tomorrow), in which we’ll talk about the steps you can take to turn your expertise into profits.

John Holling is a serial entrepreneur, a writer, and a blogger with a long history of entrepreneurial ventures in a wide range of industries.  View his full profile here.