The industry expert’s paradox (and how to fix it in 2 hours)

Find Your Superpower Newsletter 117

Read time: 4 minutes

Topic covered: 2h LinkedIn Makeover Mini-Bootcamp

You’ve spent 15+ years building expertise that most people can’t even pronounce. You have advanced degrees, solve million-dollar problems, and keep C-suite executives from losing sleep at night.

Yet that 35-year-old "LinkedIn influencer" posting recycled motivational quotes about "crushing Monday" has 10x more visibility than you do.

While you’re the undisputed expert at what you do, less qualified colleagues are getting promoted to executive roles that should be yours.

The truth is that they’re not smarter, and they’re certainly not better at the work that you do. But they understand something you don’t: they're likely better at making visible their wins and contributions to their company and beyond.

Welcome to the industry expert’s paradox: You have more expertise than most influencers, but they have more influence than you.

Most LinkedIn advice doesn’t work for industry experts

Pick up any LinkedIn guide and you’ll find advice like:

• "Share your personal journey and be vulnerable"
• "Post daily selfies with inspirational captions"
• "Use emotional hooks to grab attention"
• "Create a common enemy in your writing" 

For analytical minds, this feels... gross. Icky. Unprofessional. Like you’re being asked to become someone you’re not.

What industry experts actually need:

• Evidence-based frameworks for professional communication
• Professional content that builds authority, not personality cults
• Efficient methods that respect your time and expertise

After working with thousands of corporate executives and industry experts, I see the same patterns:

Mistake 1: The Worker Bee: You have a complete profile but rarely post. You think your work should speak for itself. On LinkedIn, if you’re not visible, you don’t exist. While you’re doing excellent work in your corner of the company, less qualified (but more visible) people are getting the promotions and career opportunities that should be yours.

Mistake 2: The Humble Bragger: You only post when something big happens. "Thrilled to announce..." "Honored to share..." This backfires. People see you as someone who only shows up to talk about yourself. They don’t learn anything valuable, so they tune out and unfollow you.

Mistake 3: The Jargon Trap: When you do share insights, you assume everyone understands your field as deeply as you do. You lose people with technical terms and skip the context they need. Your valuable insights get lost in translation, and it gets worse the more senior you get.

What actually works: Becoming a trusted expert

There’s only one LinkedIn archetype that consistently generates opportunities: The Trusted Expert. Not the flashy "aura farmer" kind with millions of followers, but the steady kind who shows up consistently with valuable insights.

The trusted expert does five things well:

1. They educate, not promote. Their content helps others solve problems instead of focusing on self-promotion.
2. They stay focused. Rather than chasing every trend, they build deep authority in their specific domain niche.
3. They simplify the complex. They explain sophisticated ideas at the level of a fourth grader, such that both experts and non-experts can understand and apply.
4. They provide value consistently. People follow them because of the professional value they consistently provide in their life and career.
5. They think long-term. They understand that thought leadership is a compound investment that pays increasing dividends over time.

Most corporate executives hit an invisible ceiling around senior individual contributor or mid-level management. They wonder why less competent colleagues advance to executive roles. Usually, it’s not about technical skills—but about visibility and authority.

As an industry expert, your career advancement increasingly depends on your ability to communicate your value beyond your immediate work environment.

Your next promotion might not come from your current company. It might come from someone who discovered your expertise on LinkedIn.

Ready to build that foundation in just 2 hours?

Back by popular demand, I’m hosting my second 2h LinkedIn Makeover Mini-Bootcamp where I’ll walk you through step 1 of a journey of 100 steps to transform your LinkedIn profile from "another executive" to "the trusted expert I need to meet."

Here’s what we’ll cover:
✅ Professional photo & visual branding revamp (photo self-provided)
✅ Headline transformation (beyond boring job titles)
✅ About section optimization
✅ Experience section makeover
✅ Visibility & security settings
.... and much more!

Plus you’ll get:

✅ Comprehensive optimization checklist
✅ 3-month replay access
✅ FREE 3-month ChanGPT.ai Pro access (worth US$45)
✅ FREE Bootcamp Upgrade: Get full US$99 credit when you join our 12-month VIP Brand Builder Mastermind

Event details

2h LinkedIn Makeover Mini-Bootcamp
Date: Saturday, 13 September 2025
Time: 9:00 - 11:00 AM GMT+8 (Singapore Time)
Venue: Zoom (link will be provided closer to date)
REGISTER HERE!

Five spots remaining.

We will admit on a first-come, first-served basis until we fill up.

Honestly speaking, one new client DM or career opportunity from your optimized LinkedIn profile will pay for this mini-bootcamp 10x over.

Ready to transform your LinkedIn presence? [Complete your registration and payment here.]

Love,
Juliana your soon-to-be bootcamp coach 🚀

PS: Most people spend more time optimizing their Amazon Prime Day purchase decisions than their LinkedIn profile. Don’t be most people.