Document Your Expertise Before Someone Else Gets Your Job

Most experts lose opportunities because they can't prove what they know.

I recently spoke with a fundraising expert who's helped organizations secure millions and knows donor psychology better than just about anyone. But when opportunities arise, she relies on referrals and conversations to communicate her value.

This pattern repeats across every domain. For example, engineers who've built critical systems lose to bootcamp grads who simply showcase their work better. Similarly, sales leaders with amazing track records lose to people who can articulate their approach more clearly.

Brilliant people consistently lose to people who are better at making their expertise legible.

Here's the solution: document your method.

Not for social media. Not for thought leadership. For yourself first (so you are as unfiltered as possible), then for the specific people who need to understand what you bring to important work.

Most professionals think their expertise is obvious. It's not. The patterns you see, the mistakes you help others avoid, the frameworks you've developed through years of practice—none of this is visible to someone evaluating whether to trust you with significant responsibility.

Documentation solves three problems. First, it forces you to crystallize your thinking. When you try to explain your approach, you discover gaps and refine your method. Second, it creates an asset that works for you when you're not in the room. Third, it demonstrates intellectual rigor to people who matter.

The process is simpler than you think. Use voice recordings with AI transcription. Ask yourself what questions a smart person would have about your domain. Record your answers. Organize the transcripts into a private wiki. Add specific case studies showing your principles in action.

Don't worry about publication strategy. Most of what you document should stay private anyway. Share selectively with potential collaborators who need to understand your capabilities.

Assume that the people making hiring decisions would love proof that you can think systematically and deliver results. A comprehensive documentation of your approach, complete with case studies, demonstrates both better than any resume or interview.

Your expertise exists in your head. Until you make it legible to others, you're always at a disadvantage to people who are worse at the work but better at explaining what they do.

Start documenting. Your dream opportunity may depend on it.