Teach One Thing — A 200-Word How-To That Makes You the Go-To

The idea

Authority doesn't come from posting a lot or from being mysterious. It comes from teaching something concrete that people can use. A 200-word how-to with specific steps beats 100 vague posts about "hard work" and "perseverance." The format is simple: title, problem (why this matters), 4–5 specific steps, one tip or resource. Done. You become known for that one skill. Post it once, and people ask you about it for months. Do this every quarter with a different skill, and after a year you're the go-to for multiple things. Specificity is what builds authority; vagueness is what loses people.

Who is this for?

What you'll get

Watch

TED · personal brand · ~6 min

Do the challenge

1. 1Pick one skill you know cold

   Something you've done 20+ times and could teach to someone. Not big philosophy — one concrete skill: "how to interview a customer," "how to price a product," "how to write a sales email that gets replies."

   💡 Pick something that took you months or years to learn. People want shortcuts. "Here's how to do in 20 min what took me 6 months" is the teaching they'll share.

2. 2Write: Problem, Steps, Tip

   Start with why it matters (1–2 sentences). Then 4–5 specific steps (numbered, actionable). End with one resource or tip. Total: ~200 words. Be granular — "Step 1: open X, click Y, fill Z" beats "Step 1: set up your system."

   💡 Help me write a 200-word how-to teach post. Skill: [what you're teaching]. Who's it for: [audience]. Problem it solves: [why this matters]. Structure: 1–2 line problem. 4–5 numbered steps (specific, actionable). 1 tip or resource. Write it as a how-to I could post on LinkedIn.

3. 3Make it specific, not vague

   Bad: "Step 1: Interview your customer." Good: "Step 1: Send them this template message (paste the message), book 30 min, and prepare 5 specific questions about [X]." Specificity is authority.

4. 4Post it — then track what people ask about

   Share it wherever your audience hangs: LinkedIn, your newsletter, a blog. Then watch what happens. The questions people ask tell you what to teach next. One teach a quarter, and you compound into a known expert.

TEACH ONE THING — 200-Word How-To

SKILL / TOPIC:
___________________________________________

AUDIENCE (who needs this):
___________________________________________

PROBLEM (why it matters):
[1–2 sentences. "Most people _____, but here's how to _____ instead."]
___________________________________________

THE STEPS (4–5, specific and numbered):
1️⃣ [Action + specific detail]
   ___________________________________________

2️⃣ [Action + specific detail]
   ___________________________________________

3️⃣ [Action + specific detail]
   ___________________________________________

4️⃣ [Action + specific detail]
   ___________________________________________

5️⃣ [Action + specific detail]
   ___________________________________________

TIP / RESOURCE:
One thing to remember or one tool that helps:
___________________________________________

WORD COUNT: ______ (target ~200)

WHERE TO POST:
[ ] LinkedIn  [ ] Newsletter  [ ] Blog  [ ] Other: ________

TRACK ENGAGEMENT:
Posted: ______  Shares: ______  Comments: ______
Questions people ask: ___________________________