In a recent LinkedIn post, Justin Welsh discusses the common pitfall of entrepreneurs and business professionals undervaluing their own expertise, a phenomenon he attributes to the “curse of knowledge.” Welsh argues that once individuals acquire skills or knowledge, they often forget what it was like to be a beginner, leading them to assume their basic understanding is common knowledge.
“So many people de-value themselves. It’s tragic,” Welsh writes in his post. He elaborates on the psychological barrier that prevents experts from sharing their insights effectively.
The Curse of Knowledge Explained
Justin Welsh highlights the “curse of knowledge” as the primary reason individuals underestimate the value of their expertise. This cognitive bias occurs when individuals, having mastered a subject, struggle to imagine what it’s like to be ignorant of it. This leads to assumptions like, “Of course, everyone knows how to do this!” Welsh points out that this is rarely the case.
“Once we acquire knowledge or skills, we can’t remember what it’s like to not have them. So we assume everyone knows what we know.”
According to Justin Welsh, this assumption is a significant roadblock for business growth. He stresses that the reality is that most people are not privy to the specific knowledge within a particular industry or field.
Actionable Advice: Educate and Share
To combat this self-devaluation, Justin Welsh strongly advocates for education and sharing. He urges professionals to “get out there and educate” by teaching what they believe is simple and sharing what they consider basic information.
“Teach that thing you think is simple. Share that stuff you believe is basic. Record a video doing the ‘easy’ thing.”
Welsh posits that actively sharing this knowledge, even if it seems rudimentary to the expert, can lead to substantial business and audience growth. He confidently states, “I guarantee your audience and business will grow faster.” The simplicity of this strategy, he implies, is often overlooked.
Building an Audience Through Value
Justin Welsh’s core message is that by consistently providing value through accessible education, individuals can build a loyal audience and accelerate their business success. He emphasizes that what seems “easy” to an expert is often precisely what a less experienced audience needs to learn.
“But the reality is that most people don’t know the basics about whatever industry or field you’re currently an expert in.”
He concludes by offering a practical avenue for those seeking to learn such business tips, mentioning his own weekly essay, which aims to provide simple, actionable advice in under five minutes, read by a substantial audience.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Justin Welsh on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on May 3, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →