If you find yourself stuck, wondering who to serve with your content, or your product, or your business, I want you to take a moment and think about who you were a few years ago. That's right, the past version of you holds the key to your future success.
See, in my experience, you're most powerfully positioned to serve the person you once were. Why? Because you remember what it felt like to sit where they're sitting, to struggle with what they're struggling with. I remember being in the audience, looking at the person on stage and thinking, "I should be up there." I remember walking through an airport and seeing a book on the shelf, wondering, "How can that be my book?"
You don't just sympathize; you empathize. You've lived it. You've been through the grind, the questions, the struggles, and you've overcome them. You have the roadmap someone else needs, and what's more, you have the heart to truly help them.
People often underestimate the wisdom they've gained. They think, "Who am I to teach? What do I know?" Let me tell you, you know a lot more than you give yourself credit for. You've been through stuff, you've solved problems, you've answered questions. Your life experience is a goldmine.
The funny thing is that sometimes we're blind to our own expertise. We think what we know is common knowledge, but it's not. It's what Rory calls 'the curse of knowledge.' We think because it's easy for us, it must be easy for everyone else. But that's not true. Your learning curve could be someone else's shortcut.
So ask yourself: What problem have I solved? What challenge have I overcome? What questions have I answered? Your past self holds the key to the people you can most effectively serve.
And one more thing—people don't need experts. They need help. It's not about credentials, titles, or even how many books you've read on a subject. It's about whether you can guide someone through a process you yourself have been through.
So the next time you're not sure who to serve, think about who you were 5 or 10 years ago. What did that person need? Be the person who provides it. Serve your former self. And in doing so, you'll not only create a fulfilling cycle of growth but a community of people who are growing along with you.
That's the heart of it. So go ahead and make the connection, break through that shell, and serve your past self. Because in doing so, you're serving a community that needs exactly what you have to offer.