You can be world-class and still invisible. Just ask Joshua Bell, one of the worldās top violinists...
In 2007, Joshua Bell played his $3.5M Stradivarius violin for 45 minutes in a Washington, D.C. subway station.
Only 7 people stopped to listen.
The same musician who sells out concert halls at $500 per ticket made just $32 from subway commuters.
Thousands of people walked by without even noticing him.
The brutal truth? Your expertise is worthless if people canāt recognize it.
How you *package* your expertise matters. Like a lot.
If youāre posting consistently but not landing clients, hereās how to fix this:
1. Create content for buyers (not peers):
Maybe other musicians would have recognized Joshuaās subway genius, but his potential customers walked right by.
Stop bending over backwards to impress your peers and start speaking to your buyers. That means ditching the jargon (yes, even the smart-sounding stuff).
I do this in my own business. Technically, I write a newsletter about ābehavioral economicsāābut youāll rarely hear me use those words.
Instead, I talk about ābuyer psychologyā. Why? Because my audience understands it. The PhD experts might cringe, but my 63,000 readers get it immediately.
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2. Position yourself strategically:
Joshua commands $500 tickets at Symphony Hall but earned $32 in a subway. Same talent, completely different context.
Are you making it crystal clear what problem you solve, who you help, and when they need you? If your audience has to guess, youāre easy to ignore.
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3. Look the part:
In concert halls, Joshua wears formal attire on an elevated stage. In the subway, he looked like a random street performer.
Donāt make the same mistake. Your LinkedIn photos, banner image, and videos should amplify your positioning.
Fun fact: Todd Herman, one of the worldās top business coaches, doesnāt need glasses but wears them anyway as part of his personal brand āuniformā. Why? Because people automatically perceive glasses-wearers as smarter and Todd wants to be seen as an expert.
(Before you ask, yes. I actually need my glasses.)
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4. Showcase your credibility:
Concert-goers know Joshuaās reputation before hearing a note. In the subway, he was anonymous.
Even brilliant experts make this same mistake. Donāt assume people know youāre an expert. Share your wins. Brag about client results. Display those hard-won credentials.
Yes, humble-bragging can feel cringe. (Trust me, I know). And yes, it works. (Again, I know).
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The most talented violinist in the world went from earning tens of thousands per performance to street performer wages. All because he ignored the fundamentals of perception.
Donāt be the Joshua Bell of your industryābrilliant but ignorable.
How much is poor packaging costing YOU?