You know those little pop-up windows that say, “Your Opinion Counts!” in an effort to recruit you to take online surveys? Those little boxes seem to appear out of nowhere, and as annoying as they are, their message is actually spot on. Your opinion does count.

Many people tend to value the opinions of experts over their own, deferring to them instead of discovering what they know to be true. You have a unique way of looking at the world – everyone does. You and you alone are an expert on your own opinion. It may not sound like much but it’s actually huge.

Anyone can be an expert based on his or her own beliefs. Who can deny that I know my own beliefs best? That’s right – don’t even try to challenge me! Your opinion is a great starting point because it is steeped in your own life experience and reflects your passions.

Once you notice your opinion, the next step is to develop it. Steep yourself in knowledge, shout it from the rooftops, and prove yourself right by testing your opinion out. From your opinion comes the responsibility to learn everything you need to know to grow the crap out of it.

Who cares what the other “experts” think – you know what you know and that’s enough. Your opinion about whatever you are passionate about is all the qualification you need for expert status. Half the clowns that call themselves “experts” are just cashing in on a hot trend, like Search Engine Optimization (SEO) or flipping real estate. And because these phonies didn’t leverage their past, experience, or interests – their opinion – their advice is hollow and their success is questionable.

So the next time you see one of those pesky little pop-up survey windows, take it as a friendly reminder that your opinion does count. Don’t defer; make your case. Build your business on what you know to be true and people will naturally consider you to be an expert in your own field. Why? Because you are.