The Business of Expertise: How Entrepreneurial Experts Convert Insight to Impact + Wealth Hardcover – July 11, 2017

I discovered David C Baker and Blair Enns a handful of years ago online and was immediately receptive to their knowledge. I decided to pick up both Blair's and Davids books through Audible so I could listen to them while I work. I'm a very tactile individual and like to own physical versions of some things, and decided to purchase both Blair's and David's books. The wealth of guidance and perspective that David shares is honestly worth 10 times the price of this book or more. I'd highly recommend listening to David if you're a creative professional looking to build an expert practice and solve real creative problems.I can't in good conscience recommend buying the book at the moment sadly, as my first arrived with massive damage, basically a completely destroyed cover - Amazon replaced this and the second arrived with minor damage to the hardcover also... Hopefully you'll have better lick if you do order the physical book.

I read both this book and Baker’s recent book on elite advisors and their “tradecraft”. This book is more substantive. Not arcane or academic. A conversational tone. Lots of reflective observations based on his own learnings. Some chapters like chapter 8 on “vertical and horizontal positioning” are substantive and diagnostic. Very helpful. Other chapters are a call to reflect on your practice and your work (what is your value proposition) and, importantly, take your practice to the next level and play “the long game” in your advisory career. The connecting thread here is acting with intellectual courage, clear and crisp positioning, and continuous learning. Not a perfect book. Lacks case studies. No references to the larger business literature. His tone - at times to me - both humble and a bit arrogant. All in all, as I wind down in a long career as both a strategy consultant and a b-school professor, it helped me better name what gave coherence and distinction to my work.

This book is full of solid information based on a lifetime of experience, but sometimes it feels as if the author is just filling pages with lists.

The Business of Expertise: How Entrepreneurial Experts Convert Insight to Impact + Wealth is the best business book I have ever read. As someone who always struggled to articulate what I excelled at due to the lack of a professional label or badge (e.g. engineer/lawyer/accountant), David's words of wisdom and practical tools provided such insight. I immediately as my new found confidence in my own expertise translated commercially and personally as I nailed my positioning and value to clients. The delight I have in owning that expertise now is immeasurable.I can only sing the praises of this slim volume, which I often have tucked in my bag, and refer to regularly. It has become a talisman for my continued success, inspired me to write more and seek out experts such as David C.Baker and Blair Enns to continue to expand and evolve my own expertise.

I've been on a mission to translate my product design sole proprietorship into a formal consultancy that will create leverage. I've been consuming a lot of the different experts' opinions on this, from Jonathan Stark to Alan Weiss to Blair Enns, and now David C. Baker. David has rounded out my perspective on what it takes to become a well-positioned expert with this book. In fact, I was so convinced of what he had to say, and the way he said it, that I hired David to work with me on a one-on-one basis to ensure I get my consultancy positioning right from the get-go.Read the book if you are in between a consultant and entrepreneur, there's nothing else out there like it.

I have subscribed to David Baker’s blog for some time.There’s always a good tidbit about becoming a better expert.When the “Business of Expertise” was announced, I pre ordered a copy.When this book arrived… I sat down promptly with a highlighter, pen and note pad.If you do consulting or advising and or coaching in a business environment the concepts and idea presented here can be a real game changer.It has been for me.So good, I bought two additional copies an gave to colleagues.The small investment in this book, plus the time to read and think will pay you many dividends.Order a copy now and read soon!

Refreshing take on how to position an entrepreneurial firm. I’m not in a particularly creative field (Owner of a financial planning firm), but found the perspective on leveraging expertise to differentiate well worth the investment in the time it took to read.In fact, the book is in my suitcase now, and I plan to re-read it this week, as I contemplate the contents with a beer and a tequila.Recommended.UPDATEAfter re-reading on a recent getaway, I’m 80% complete on a brand, client delivery, and marketing refresh-focused on penetrating a much smaller niche more deeply, based on many of the concepts in the book. Looking forward to positive business and life impacts!

I enjoyed the message but got lost in the lingo. For example, I’m not confident in how David distinguishes vertical from horizontal positioning. This book is not a foundational reference but it is great nudge towards building expertise.