You don't need a license to be the go-to person these days.

A client of mine this week told me he didn’t feel qualified to talk about what he does.

Not online. Not in front of clients. And definitely not in a workshop or seminar.

He’s only a year into building his business after leaving full-time employment. And while he’s learned a ton, worked with real people, and solved real problems—he doesn’t think he’s earned the right to speak yet.

That conversation reminded me of the time I watched a morning show interview a “public toilet expert.”

I was fascinated. Not by the topic, but by the concept.

There’s no Master of Public Toilets degree. No governing body that hands out badges for expertise in lavatories.

This person was simply positioned as the go-to expert in their niche—because they said they were.

And they backed it up with content, commentary, and (conveniently) an app they were promoting.

If you wait for permission, you’ll wait forever

What struck me wasn’t just how bold that toilet expert was—it was how normal it’s become to skip the gatekeepers.

The media used to decide who got to be the voice of authority. Now it’s up to algorithms and audiences.

The real tragedy is when brilliant people—like my client—hold back because they don’t have enough “years in.”

Meanwhile, others with zero experience but loads of confidence are getting airtime, clients, and credibility just because they put themselves out there.

If you're showing up every day, doing the work, helping people and improving as you go—you're already more qualified than most of the people making noise.

No one's going to invite you. Claim your seat anyway.

I’ve met professors who teach marketing but have never run a single campaign. And I’ve worked alongside high school dropouts who could scale a Facebook ad strategy like it’s second nature.

Expertise isn’t earned through a certificate anymore.

It’s earned through experience shared. And the sharing part? That’s where most people freeze.

We’ve all been taught to wait:

• For someone to tell us we’re ready.
• For some moment that makes us “official.”
• For permission.

But if the internet has done anything, it’s removed the velvet rope from the world of ideas.

Anyone with a message and a method can be a thought leader now.

You don’t have to be the best. You just have to be visible.

You already have everything you need to teach, share, or speak about your expertise.

What you don’t need is permission.

No one is going to give you a licence to speak up.

But here’s the twist: you already gave it to yourself the moment you started your business.

Don’t believe me? Try this:

• Post one lesson you’ve learned on LinkedIn.
• Run a free online workshop on the #1 question you get asked.
• Record a 3-minute video explaining something simple in your field.

Then wait.

The messages will come. The people will notice. And you’ll realise the only permission you ever needed was your own.

That's it for this week. A short read on how you don't need to ask anyone's permission to position yourself as the expert you already are.

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Have a great week ahead. ✌🏽

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