I was on a call with one of my clients, discussing his week ahead and how we might fit some additional content into his schedule.

"My week isn't too busy. I can probably fit some things in after NBC leaves...", he said. 

"I'm sorry, what? Can we get that on camera for social?", I said.

"Bah, no, it won't be very exciting. Nobody will care."

I was flabbergasted. How many aspiring thought leaders would love to have NBC visit their home to do a piece on them? And yet, here he was, brushing it off like it was nothing. 

It got me thinking, we've all had that kind of moment when we've brushed off something extraordinary because it felt too “ordinary”. Maybe it’s the way you streamline your work processes, the effortless way you connect with people, or how you always know what to say when someone’s stuck. To you, it’s just how you operate. To you, it's ordinary, but to others—it's extraordinary and could be their breakthrough.

I follow many people online who have incredibly different lives and businesses than I do. What's ordinary to them is such an incredible difference to how I operate in my day-to-day life. Like Aketch Joy Winnie, a model who highlights her simple daily life in Uganda. Or Melanie Renee who takes you through her day raising and homeschooling her family of 11. Neither are doing anything spectacular. They're not doing TikTok dances. They're not spending hours upon hours editing the perfect content. They're simply sharing what they do every day—ordinary things that are extraordinary to others. 

Most aspiring thought leaders overlook the incredible potential in their own expertise simply because they’re too close to it. The knowledge, skills, and approaches you take for granted could be exactly what someone else is willing to pay for. And the best part? You can turn these “ordinary” skills into a course, program, or membership that scales your impact and income.

Here’s how to identify your hidden expertise and package it into something others will buy.

Why We Overlook Our Own Genius

“Expertise” is often equated with years of formal training, fancy titles, or groundbreaking discoveries. This makes many people believe their everyday knowledge doesn’t count. 

But here’s the thing: the real value lies in what you can teach someone to do faster, easier, or better. You don’t have to be a world-renowned expert to show someone how to navigate a challenge they’re facing (as long as your expertise doesn't cause emotional or physical harm).

For example:

• A stay-at-home parent who organizes family life with military precision could create a course on time management.
• A fitness enthusiast who overcame their own health struggles might help others start their journey with simple, realistic steps.
• A business owner who learned how to close deals authentically could teach others to sell without feeling salesy.

What feels obvious to you might just be the life-changing breakthrough someone else needs.

How to Identify Your Unique Expertise

1. Ask yourself: What do people always ask me for help with?
   Think about the questions you frequently get from friends, family, or colleagues. These are the clues to your unique expertise.
2. Look for patterns in your success stories.
   What have you consistently done well, even when it seemed simple to you? Did you lead a team, land a job, or solve a recurring problem with ease? 
3. Reflect on what excites you.
   The topics or activities you enjoy talking about endlessly often point to your zone of genius.
4. Pay attention to compliments.
   If multiple people have told you that you’re “great at that,” it’s worth taking seriously. 

Why This Matters for Aspiring Thought Leaders

As a thought leader, your goal is to inspire, educate, and create impact. Packaging your unique expertise into a sellable program not only helps others but also establishes you as an authority in your field.

Imagine building a community of people who turn to you for guidance. Think about the ripple effect of teaching others what you know and seeing them succeed because of your help.

And here’s the bonus: creating a course allows you to scale your impact. Instead of repeating the same advice one-on-one, you can help dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of people at once.