I think the beginning phase of becoming an expert is knowing what you don't know. When you're at the junior level you don't even know what you don't know. Reaching intermediate status can mean that you know some stuff, like what you need to pass the exams, but are starting to "grok" the large amount of knowledge you haven't reached yet. When I've talked to real SQL experts, I've been amazed at how humble many of them are. They know they know more than me but they're not too impressed with themselves to answer my questions. Personally, I'm more impressed with those kind of experts than the few that want to beat you up with how much they know. I've met so many wonderful people at PASS and SQL Saturdays and have learned a lot from those events. I am really amazed at how many true experts are willing to give of their time and money to share what they know.