Are you qualified?

I remember when I started writing my first book, someone asked me "Are you qualified to write about that?" which would seem to be a logical question.  In actual fact what he was asking was  "What formal qualifications do you have that enable you to write that book?"  Well actually I had none.

Far too often people confuse their qualifications with their knowledge.  I have a degree in civil engineering so in theory I am qualified to design structures.  In reality I don't think that would be a very good idea.  They would most likely fall down!

What qualifies me to write this blog?  Actually nothing.  But I write it none the less.

Qualifications tell you a lot about what people have studied but not much about the person themselves.  The fact that I have studied something and not qualified in that sphere does not make me any less knowledgable.  It simply makes me less "qualified".

Many people believe (as I used to) that qualifications somehow define them.  That they are more capable as a result of being qualified.  In actual fact being qualified has nothing to do with being more capable.  It is only a means to represent to other people that you have studied a certain topic.

I am not saying that qualifications are not useful, only that lack of a qualification does not necessarily mean lack of ability.

One thing is for sure.  You cannot build your self-esteem out of your qualifications - no matter how good you are at origami.

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