Take The Right Advice

Today, I want to share a crucial lesson I've learned many times over in my journey as an entrepreneur. It's about who you take advice from.

You can love and admire someone, but that doesn’t mean their advice is right for you.

When I started out, I trusted people too easily. I thought everyone who offered advice had my best interests at heart.

However, it's essential to be critical of who you listen to, especially when it comes to your career and life choices.

Imagine you're at a family dinner, discussing your future, and someone suggests a particular career path.

Or maybe you're with friends or your partner, and they're advising you on what job to take.

While their intentions might be good, it’s vital to ensure they are qualified to give that advice.

Recently, I was at a family gathering for a wedding. An extended family member I hadn’t seen in years started telling me how crucial it is to get a degree, despite my current success.

He insisted that a degree would be beneficial, even though my business is already thriving. This person, who got a degree and ended up in a job he doesn't enjoy, felt entitled to give advice. But why should I follow his path when my business is already doing well?

This brings me to an essential point: take advice only from those who have the experience and success you aspire to achieve.

Even if someone is close to you, if they aren’t where you want to be in life, their advice might not be right for you.

It’s easy to get swayed by people you love, but remember, the consequences of acting on bad advice fall solely on you.

Even if someone is a multimillionaire or in a high position, if their success is in a different field than what you're pursuing, their advice might not be applicable.

For instance, taking branding advice from someone who made billions in oil wouldn’t be helpful. Seek out advice from those who have succeeded in your specific area of interest.

For example, I once had to hire an MI5 spy to verify the legitimacy of a business contact. It turned out he wasn’t trustworthy, saving me from potential losses.

This might sound extreme, but it underscores the importance of thorough due diligence.

In the business world, being selective about whom you listen to can save you years of wasted effort. Look at their track record. Are they successful? Do they have what you want?

If they do, then their advice is worth considering.

When networking, ask successful people as many questions as you can. Their insights are invaluable, and you might not get another chance to learn from them.

Remember, the value of advice lies not just in the advice itself but in the credentials of the person giving it.

Just recently, a family member tried to guilt me into going back to university.

However, considering their life situation and their unhappiness with their own career, it was clear their perspective wasn’t right for me. Always critically evaluate the source of advice and stand firm in your own decisions.

Your future depends on the quality of advice you choose to follow.

Go Kill It Man
- JP