The Exact Problem You Solve 🎯

Summary

The transcript emphasizes the importance of positioning oneself clearly in subject matter expert work by identifying and focusing on the main problem one solves. It discusses the challenge of pinpointing a specific target market and the core issue they face, whether it's scaling a business, transitioning a family-owned business, or addressing personal concerns like eliminating belly fat. The speaker encourages self-reflection on what keeps the target audience up at night, suggesting that understanding their deepest fears or dreams is key to crafting a compelling personal brand and effective content strategy.

Takeaways

• 🎯 The importance of being clear on the main problem you solve in your professional work, especially for subject matter experts.
• 🚀 Positioning is crucial; you need to know how you want to be seen by your audience on platforms like LinkedIn and your website.
• 🔑 Identifying the single biggest problem you solve is key to attracting the right audience who are seeking that specific solution.
• 💡 Even though you may help in many ways, focusing on the main thing you do for your audience helps in attracting the right clients.
• 🌟 Use specific examples to illustrate the problem you solve, such as helping business owners scale and exit successfully within a certain timeframe.
• 👥 Target a specific audience with a clear problem in mind, like female tech founders who want to balance work and family while scaling their business.
• 📈 Understand the core fears and dreams of your target market to tailor your services to address their deepest concerns or aspirations.
• 🤔 Ask what keeps your target market up at night to uncover the fundamental issues they are dealing with.
• 💬 Listen to the questions and problems people frequently bring to you; these can indicate the exact problems you should be solving.
• 📚 Personalize your messaging in your own language rather than relying solely on copywriters or ghostwriters.
• 📝 Once you identify the core problem you solve, it becomes easier to create content, develop an online presence, and articulate your personal brand.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the speaker's discussion on subject matter expert work?

The main focus is on positioning oneself clearly in terms of the exact problem one solves, which is crucial for subject matter experts to be recognized and sought after in their field.

Why is it important to identify the 'main problem' one solves according to the speaker?

Identifying the main problem helps in attracting the right audience who are seeking a solution to that specific issue, making one's personal brand and offerings more targeted and appealing.

What does the speaker suggest as a key strategy for positioning oneself in the market?

The speaker suggests focusing on and communicating the single biggest problem one solves as a key strategy for positioning oneself in the market.

How does the speaker illustrate the concept of positioning with the example of a fitness professional?

The speaker uses the example of a fitness professional who specifically targets 40-year-old men wanting to get rid of belly fat, showing how a clear and specific target market and problem can make one's offerings stand out.

What is the significance of understanding the 'core problem' that keeps a target market up at night?

Understanding the core problem addresses the fundamental issues that motivate and concern the target market, allowing one to provide solutions that resonate deeply with their needs and desires.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of specificity when defining one's target market?

Specificity in defining a target market helps in creating more focused and effective marketing messages, content, and solutions that directly address the unique needs and challenges of that market.

What is the speaker's opinion on hiring professionals like copywriters or ghostwriters for personal branding?

The speaker believes that while hiring professionals can be helpful, often their work may not resonate as well as when one creates content in their own language and style, which is more authentic and relatable.

How can understanding a target market's dreams and fears help in developing a personal brand?

Understanding dreams and fears allows one to approach personal branding from both a problem-solving and aspirational perspective, creating a more compelling narrative that aligns with the market's desires and concerns.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the creation of content once the core problem is identified?

The speaker advises that once the core problem is identified, it becomes easier to create content such as online learning materials, books, keynote talks, LinkedIn articles, and website copy that directly addresses that problem.

What is the potential downside of not identifying the core problem one solves, as mentioned by the speaker?

Not identifying the core problem can make it difficult for people to understand what one does, hinder the development of a specific personal brand, and complicate the creation of targeted content and marketing materials.

How can one determine the exact problem they solve for their audience according to the speaker?

One can determine the exact problem they solve by reflecting on what people consistently ask for help with, the issues that keep their target market up at night, and the dreams and fears of that market.