The Expertise Hook Library.

30 expertise hook templates

1. 1.

   [Elite institution] researchers just found that [finding]

   • “Harvard researchers just found that grit beats IQ every time”
   • “Stanford scientists just proved that 6 hours of sleep is worse than none”
   • “MIT just discovered the real reason people procrastinate”
2. 2.

   A [profession] showed me the real way to [task]

   • “A surgeon showed me the real way to tie a shoelace”
   • “A sommelier showed me the actual way to open wine at a dinner”
   • “A trial lawyer showed me the real way to win a family argument”
3. 3.

   After [N] years as a [role], I learned [unexpected truth]

   • “After 20 years as a nurse, I learned when to trust your gut over the chart”
   • “After 15 years as a CEO, I learned that slow decisions beat bold ones”
   • “After 30 years as a therapist, I learned that anger isn't the real problem”
4. 4.

   My [expert type] told me [surprising thing]

   • “My cardiologist told me red meat isn't the villain”
   • “My tax attorney told me homeownership is a scam if you move every 7 years”
   • “My pediatrician told me screens before 3 aren't the issue”
5. 5.

   Every [profession] knows this about [everyday thing]

   • “Every flight attendant knows this about cabin air”
   • “Every electrician knows this about your outlets”
   • “Every chef knows this about restaurant ice”
6. 6.

   A new study just proved [commonly-held belief] is wrong

   • “A new study just proved 10,000 steps is a marketing number”
   • “A new study just proved breakfast isn't the most important meal”
   • “A new study just proved IQ tests don't measure what we thought”
7. 7.

   As a [role], here's the truth about [topic]

   • “As a neurosurgeon, here's the truth about concussions”
   • “As a hiring manager, here's the truth about resume gaps”
   • “As a kindergarten teacher, here's the truth about iPad kids”
8. 8.

   The [expert type] who trained me always said [rule]

   • “The boxing coach who trained me always said your legs tell the truth”
   • “The chef who trained me always said salt the water like the sea”
   • “The VC who mentored me always said founders lie about timelines”
9. 9.

   Top [specialists] do [unusual practice] every morning

   • “Top trial lawyers rewrite the closing argument every morning”
   • “Top neurosurgeons do 20 minutes of Legos every morning”
   • “Top screenwriters read a children's book every morning”
10. 10.

    I asked a [expert] about [topic] — their answer surprised me

    • “I asked a dietitian about protein shakes — her answer surprised me”
    • “I asked a therapist about journaling — his answer was not what I expected”
    • “I asked a plumber about water filters — his reply was simpler than I thought”
11. 11.

    A Nobel laureate explained [complex thing] in under a minute

    • “A Nobel laureate explained how stocks actually work in under a minute”
    • “A Nobel laureate explained memory in under 30 seconds”
    • “A Nobel laureate explained why we procrastinate in plain English”
12. 12.

    [Elite school] grads keep saying this about [topic]

    • “Harvard grads keep saying this about networking”
    • “Stanford grads keep saying this about starting a company”
    • “MIT grads keep saying this about math class”
13. 13.

    The [profession] who built [famous thing] shared one rule

    • “The engineer who built the iPhone's keyboard shared one rule”
    • “The architect who designed the Apple Campus shared one rule”
    • “The writer who built Breaking Bad shared one rule about character”
14. 14.

    [N] years in [field] taught me [lesson]

    • “12 years in finance taught me that budgets don't matter, cashflow does”
    • “20 years in software taught me that deadlines shape products more than specs”
    • “15 years in teaching taught me that praise doesn't teach anything”
15. 15.

    [Authority figure] just rewrote everything about [topic]

    • “Andrew Huberman just rewrote everything about morning light”
    • “Peter Attia just rewrote everything about cardio zones”
    • “Esther Perel just rewrote everything about long-term attraction”
16. 16.

    Scientists at [institution] just discovered [phenomenon]

    • “Scientists at Stanford just discovered why cold plunges actually help”
    • “Scientists at Johns Hopkins just discovered a new organ in the throat”
    • “Scientists at CERN just discovered a particle nobody expected”
17. 17.

    A [elite profession] once told me [short rule]

    • “A Navy SEAL once told me: slow is smooth, smooth is fast”
    • “A Supreme Court clerk once told me: write for the dumbest justice”
    • “A retired astronaut once told me: your worst day isn't real”
18. 18.

    I trained under [expert] for [duration] — here's what stuck

    • “I trained under an Olympic coach for 3 months — here's what stuck”
    • “I trained under a Michelin chef for a summer — this is what I still use”
    • “I trained under a Fortune 500 CFO for a year — one thing changed everything”
19. 19.

    Only [specialist type] notice this about [everyday thing]

    • “Only dentists notice this about how you smile”
    • “Only pilots notice this about clouds”
    • “Only typographers notice this about the Google logo”
20. 20.

    The person who invented [famous thing] said [quote]

    • “The person who invented PowerPoint said he regrets it every day”
    • “The person who invented the pop-up ad said one thing he'd change”
    • “The person who invented autocorrect said we've been using it wrong”
21. 21.

    A [senior practitioner] corrected me on [topic]

    • “A 30-year ER nurse corrected me on how to take ibuprofen”
    • “A senior realtor corrected me on what actually sells a house”
    • “A chess grandmaster corrected me on why beginners lose”
22. 22.

    [Profession] ranked the best [category] — #1 surprised me

    • “Chefs ranked the best fast food chains — #1 surprised me”
    • “Pilots ranked the best airlines to fly on — #1 was unexpected”
    • “Dermatologists ranked the best drugstore sunscreens — #1 threw me off”
23. 23.

    I gave my [work] to a [expert] and watched them react

    • “I gave my resume to a Google recruiter and watched him react”
    • “I gave my pitch to a seed VC and watched her react in real time”
    • “I gave my novel opening to a literary agent and watched her face”
24. 24.

    Experts at [institution] just settled the [topic] debate

    • “Experts at Harvard just settled the coffee-before-workout debate”
    • “Experts at MIT just settled the standing-desk debate”
    • “Experts at Mayo Clinic just settled the creatine-for-women debate”
25. 25.

    I brought [problem] to a [expert] — they solved it in [duration]

    • “I brought my sleep problem to a neurologist — she solved it in 20 minutes”
    • “I brought my back pain to an orthopedist — he solved it with one stretch”
    • “I brought my tax mess to a CPA — he solved it in one afternoon”
26. 26.

    A [title] reviewed my [thing] — the note I missed

    • “A Supreme Court clerk reviewed my contract — the note I missed”
    • “A Michelin critic reviewed my home cooking — the one thing I kept doing wrong”
    • “An Oscar editor reviewed my short film — the feedback I didn't see coming”
27. 27.

    Top [specialist] all share one habit: [habit]

    • “Top surgeons all share one habit: visualizing the cut before the first incision”
    • “Top traders all share one habit: writing every trade in ink”
    • “Top dancers all share one habit: 5 minutes of deliberate breathing before rehearsal”
28. 28.

    What a [expert] would do differently in [situation]

    • “What a hostage negotiator would do differently in a salary talk”
    • “What an ER doctor would do differently during a cold”
    • “What a marriage therapist would do differently during the first fight”
29. 29.

    The research on [topic] just changed

    • “The research on saturated fat just changed”
    • “The research on SSRIs just changed”
    • “The research on intermittent fasting just changed”
30. 30.

    This [credential]'s take on [topic] will change how you see it

    • “This Harvard neuroscientist's take on screen time will change how you see it”
    • “This Olympic doctor's take on stretching will shift your whole routine”
    • “This MIT economist's take on rent will reframe your next lease”

Need a hook for your own topic? Try the hook generator, turn the one you pick into a script or browse all 500 hooks.