Imagine this: you’ve got this strange, nagging shoulder pain.

It only flares up when you move your arm a certain way, but when it does, it’s excruciating — like someone’s driving a nail right into the joint.

You decide to see a doctor.

At the office, the routine begins. The nurse takes your insurance info, asks a few questions, and leaves.

A few minutes later, the doctor breezes in, barely glances at your shoulder, scribbles a prescription for pain meds, and sends you on your way.

You leave the clinic feeling just as lost as when you walked in.

As you’re heading home, you pass a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk.

He notices you rubbing your shoulder.

“Hey,” he says, “is your shoulder hurting?”

You pause and nod.

“Does it hurt right on top?” he asks.

“Yeah… how’d you know?”

“And it’s worst when you try to lift your arm above your head, right?”

“Exactly!” you say, surprised.

The man smiles knowingly and tells you, “I had the same problem. Here’s what worked for me.”

Now ask yourself: whose advice would you trust more?

The doctor with a prescription pad or the stranger who spoke directly to your pain?

You don’t always need fancy titles, a big platform, or a bunch of accolades to earn someone’s trust.

If you can clearly identify their problem and show them how to solve it, you’ve already won.