Up front fact: I am not a custom installer. I just know a fair bit about hand-held remote controls - the HTM remotes more than most others. The term beside my name was given to me by Daniel. I'm not all that sure that I am an EXPERT, although, like I said, I know a fair bit about some remotes.

That being said, I've always thought it interesting when people say things like: "Let the PROFESSIONALS give you the right answers" or something to that effect.

Im my almost 50 years of existence on this rock, I've found many PROFESSIONALS with not a lot of EXPERTise.

It is the EXPERTS whose opinion that I value, who may very well be professionals.

Get me on this?

EXPERT: "A person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject." (Dictionary.com)

PROFESSIONAL: "Engaging in a given activity as a source of livelihood or as a career." (Dictionary.com)

The above definitions are those that I agree with, althought Dictionary.com does include a definition for professional that includes "expertise".

I, however, believe that the word professional was first coined only to indicate that someone was working in a certain profession, and that it eventually evolved into it being a synonym for expert.

SO, my thoughts are although I appreciate the comments of all PROFESSIONALS in this forum, I truly only APPLY the advice of those that I deem to be EXPERTS, whether they are in the PROFESSION or not.

........ food for thought.........

Greg

P.S. Thanks to all who have enlightened me in so many ways in this forum merely by talking amongst yourselves as professionals and experts alike AND for taking the time to answer properly pre-researched/searched-for questions by non-professional and/or non-expert individuals in this field. Thank you!

I feel the same way about the misuse of the words slut and whore. Any woman can work as a professional during the day but behave like a slut for her man at night. But it takes a gifted woman indeed that can work as a professional during the day but behave like a whore for her man at night.

OK, just kidding as always. I like your post Greg but if you are going to be picky about semantics I would argue that I want to work with an expert that conducts themself in a professional manner. I don't want either without the other.

This message was edited by QQQ on 01/08/05 03:39 ET.

p.s. Where have you been. You used to post here all the time.

Greg

Here's my thoughts!

Professional: Somebody that is trained to do a job.

Expert: Somebody that is totally addicted to the lifestyle and spends his "off time" learning more about his "profession"

Probably knows things that don't really matter anymore.

Owns tools that he (or she) doesn't use anymore because they are outdated.

I'm only an "expert" at the things I've experienced! Thats why I love this site!!
If you stop learning, then, your just a professional!!

This message was edited by pilgram on 01/08/05 11:39 ET.

As always, Q^3, you crack me up!

Hey QQQ, read the profile on Greg. I think I know where he has been.

Good for you Greg for spending time on your family. Many of us who are professionals in this field forget the fun that our families provide.

I know a few experts that are experts at being an expert. And I also know a few professionals that are professionals at being professional. But neither are very professional or have that much expertise:)

As the saying goes, "Actions speak louder than words".

I change the byline that shows up below my posts every once in a while; the one below just sort of occurred to me one day and it cracked me up.

The last one I used was "An expert is a person who has an old worn-out tool for doing something that I can't even figure out how to do."

I think that is true, and a glance in the tool collections of people you consider experts will probably bear this out.

(Actually, I just realized that a good many experts will have actually built that tool from scratch or from something intended for a wildly different purpose.)

And the reason why so many of us are either divorced ( not yet ) or about to get divorced ( been there a lot of times ) is because our profession demands that we spend far too much time away from our families.

I do not think I am alone in having too many difficult clients who think that programming means I must program their systems to fit their current mood and often reprogram the system back to my original design when the client comes to the conclusion I was right in the first place. I also have to deal with too many manufacturers who have no idea and could care less about making their equipment easy to integrate. Then there is the frustrating reality that even the easiest task, like wiring volume controls, takes too much time. Calculate troubleshooting and the fact that we do not go to the same job every day and need to be at some other job tomorrow so we have to finish today even if that means working to 10pm and it means that this job is hard on families and family life.

I sometimes think that this business tends to attract workahalics and if you need to be at work you will not make time to be with your family. 9-5 jobs simply make having a family life much easier.

Being a professional idicates only how one earns a living. Expertise connotates actual knowledge. Sometimes the two go together and sometimes they do not. If I do not know how to use a spectrum analyzer to EQ a room but understand the basics of room accustics and speaker placement am I an expert? If I master the intricacies of IR control systems but cannot program a serial device am I an expert? If I am unable to wire a system neatly but can do anything else am I an expert? If all I can do is wire a system ( rack ) am I an expert?

Of this I am certain, in the case of programming, there are many programmers who do not earn their bread programming control systems who are so far superior in abilities to those of us who do that the distinction between "professional" and "amature" is irrelevant and adds little to our understanding of the word " professional."

Alan

As for as our profession attracting workaholics, I agree...and disagree. Actually I think it is this industry that makes our careers so hard on us and our families. We do stay late and get the job done so that we can be at our next appointment on the right day. We do stay until 1:30 in the morning because the client has a party the next day. If you ask an electrician to stay until 1:30 they will tell you you're f@%king nuts. But better yet, tell the homeowner to ask the electrician to stay until 1:30 and then watch their face, because they DON'T expect electricians, carpenters, heating/airconditioning people to stay late. They are more likely to expect them to cancel the appointment, or move it back a day or two. Let's face it, we have done this to ourselves. My worst is when I was late on my wife's birthday, man was she pissed!!! What's that saying about an old dog and his tricks?

As far as the "Professional"/"Expert" discussion, the only thing I have to say is QQQ, you're a funny man!!!

Matt

What about the sales specialist at the big box stores? I can't believe at HH Gregg they call them "Specialists"

Mike

I can; they only work when the store is having specials.

I don't understand why they sometimes call them "associates" (except for the first three letters) because I can't imagine actually associating with any of them except for one, who just asked me to keep my eyes open for a real job for him.

It's simple. You come in asking about DVDs and they are trained to associate a model number of a DVD for you.

Have a technical question about it? They will associate you with their manager who knows little more except has memorized more "associations" than the first guy. He'll "associate" you with the manufacturer's brochure after about the second question you give him. and so on.

If your an expert, does that mean your not a pert anymore?(sorry, I couldn't resist)