If you’re waiting to become an expert before you start a business, you may be waiting forever. The truth? Expertise is helpful—but it’s not required.
Just ask Shalom Lamm, a seasoned entrepreneur who has built businesses in industries he knew little about at the outset. His success wasn’t rooted in mastery of the technical details; it came from curiosity, persistence, and the courage to learn as he went.
“Too many would-be founders talk themselves out of starting,” says Lamm. “They think, ‘I’m not ready,’ or ‘I don’t know enough.’ But no one starts out knowing everything. That’s not how business works.”
In this post, Shalom Lamm shares why waiting for expertise can hold you back—and how starting before you’re fully “qualified” can actually be your greatest asset.
The Expertise Myth: What Really Stops People from Starting
We’ve been conditioned to think we need credentials, experience, and deep knowledge before we’re allowed to try something new—especially something as bold as launching a company.
But as Lamm points out, many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs weren’t experts when they started. They were problem-solvers. Learners. Action-takers.
“Expertise can be useful, sure,” says Lamm. “But it can also become an excuse to delay. What really matters is your ability to adapt and execute.”
What You Do Need to Start a Business (According to Shalom Lamm)
1. A Clear Problem to Solve
Lamm argues that the best businesses begin with a clear problem—not a perfect résumé.
“If you care deeply about a problem and you understand the pain point, you’re already miles ahead of someone who has technical expertise but no emotional investment.”
Whether you’ve lived the problem yourself or observed it in others, that firsthand perspective is often more powerful than any degree or training.
2. The Willingness to Learn
Shalom Lamm is the first to admit he’s not a subject-matter expert in every venture he’s launched. But he is a committed student.
“Google, YouTube, mentors, books, trial and error—that’s how I learned 90% of what I needed,” he says. “The other 10% came from hiring the right people.”
Being resourceful is far more valuable than knowing everything upfront. And today, the barrier to self-education has never been lower.
3. Courage to Be a Beginner
One of the most underrated business skills, according to Lamm, is being comfortable with looking inexperienced.
“There’s ego in wanting to appear like you’ve got it all figured out. But real entrepreneurs embrace the beginner stage. That’s where you learn the most—and make the boldest moves.”
By staying humble and curious, first-time founders can uncover insights that industry veterans might overlook.
4. Execution Over Perfection
Shalom Lamm emphasizes that the most valuable currency in entrepreneurship isn’t knowledge—it’s momentum.
“The graveyard of business ideas is full of people who were ‘waiting until they were ready.’ You don’t need a flawless plan. You need a version one.”
Start small, test quickly, get feedback, and refine as you go. Action will teach you faster than any certification.
When Expertise Can Help—And How to Get It Without Waiting
This isn’t to say expertise has no value. Of course it does—especially in technical or regulated industries. But that doesn’t mean you need to have it all yourself.
“If there’s something critical you don’t know, hire or partner with someone who does,” says Lamm. “Great founders aren’t great at everything—they build great teams.”
By leaning into collaboration, you can move faster and avoid the trap of thinking you have to go it alone.
Final Thoughts: Confidence Is Built Through Action
If there’s one lesson Shalom Lamm wants aspiring founders to hear, it’s this:
“Start before you’re ready. Confidence comes after action—not before it.”
The fear of not being an expert is natural. But it doesn’t have to be the end of your story. You can learn. You can grow. And you can build something real—starting today.
So if you’re holding back, waiting for a sign that you’re “qualified” enough, let this be it. You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to begin.