Justin Welsh on Unlocking Career Leverage by Sharing Knowledge Online

In a recent LinkedIn post, Justin Welsh discusses the common hesitation many professionals face when considering building a better life or career outside of traditional employment, attributing it to a perceived need for external permission. He argues that this reliance on validation from bosses, companies, or the market is a fundamental misunderstanding of how value is created and recognized, particularly in the digital space.

Welsh highlights that individuals who successfully build an online presence and share their expertise often do so because they believe their knowledge is inherently valuable. This belief prompts them to start sharing, writing about their experiences, and discussing problems they have solved. He points out that this initial phase is frequently met with silence or slow progress, which can be a significant hurdle for many.

“And for a while, nothing happens. That’s the part most people can’t seem to get through.”

The Psychological Barriers to Sharing Expertise

According to Welsh, the difficulty in pushing through this initial quiet period stems from inherent discomfort. He elaborates on the psychological challenges, noting that it can feel awkward to be an early adopter or to know that others are observing one’s efforts. This discomfort often fuels self-doubt, leading individuals to rationalize inaction with excuses such as being too busy, too late, too old, or having too niche a skill set.

“It’s all excuses,” Welsh states plainly, emphasizing that these are not insurmountable obstacles but rather internal barriers that prevent progress. He suggests that the key is persistence through this uncomfortable phase.

From Knowledge Sharing to Internet Leverage

The core of Welsh’s argument centers on the transformative power of consistent knowledge sharing. He explains that by staying committed, individuals begin to establish themselves as authorities on specific subjects. This recognition leads to further engagement, with people seeking their advice, asking more profound questions, and eventually inquiring about their services or how they monetize their expertise.

Welsh describes this progression as a pathway to building what he terms “total internet leverage.” This leverage, in his view, means that one’s knowledge is no longer solely confined to the valuation set by a single employer but gains independent worth and reach online. He clarifies that this pursuit is not about achieving fame or becoming a pervasive influencer, but rather about reclaiming the value of one’s skills.

“It’s about not hiding the things you’re already good at inside of someone else’s business.”

Reclaiming Value Beyond Employment

Justin Welsh posits that the opportunity lies in recognizing that an individual’s expertise has inherent value that can be cultivated and leveraged independently. He contrasts this with the common scenario where professional worth is dictated by a company’s structure and compensation. For those seeking autonomy over their career and income potential, Welsh advocates for sharing their existing skills and knowledge.

“If you’re trying to build a life where one company doesn’t decide what your knowledge is worth, I write one short essay every Saturday on exactly how to do that.”

He concludes by offering a resource for those interested in this approach, highlighting his own practice of sharing weekly essays on building such a life. This consistent sharing, he implies, is the very method he advocates for others to adopt in order to gain leverage and independence in their professional lives.