I had to see an ophthalmologist recently.

Before I went in, I was pretty sure I knew what was wrong. I'd had what I believed to be a similar issue years earlier. I was half-expecting to walk in, describe my symptoms and walk out again with a prescription for antibiotics.

That's not what happened at all.

Instead, the specialist listened to my self-diagnosis - then ran me through his formal diagnostic process, anyway. He systematically worked through all the possible causes, before announcing my assessment was wrong.

The issue, though benign, required minor surgery. It wasn't the solution I'd hoped for, but the one that I needed.

60 minutes later, I paid the bill - more expensive than a GP visit, but I didn't care. He'd solved the problem, which was what I wanted.

And in doing so, demonstrated how experts operate.

Here's the thing...

Medical specialists work with a narrow range of problems by design. The tools and medications may change, but the area of focus doesn't. Ophthalmologists focus on eyes and eyelids, never your knees or your heart.

What that means is they see the same problem types over and over again, allowing them to solve them faster and more reliably than a GP.

They also don't just do what patients ask. Because doing so would be malpractice.

You can't walk into a cardiologist's office and ask for a bypass and have them reach for the scalpel. They diagnose first and then prescribe.

As a data professional, you should be doing the same - whether you work as an employee or are out on your own.

Specialise in the type of problems you solve and never skip the diagnosis.

Both are essential, if you want to be paid like an expert.

Talk again soon,

Dr Genevieve Hayes