Some Advice about Advice

When it comes to receiving advice, guidance, counseling or wisdom on a subject, make sure that the person you are asking is successful in the area(s) you are looking to grow or attain more wisdom and knowledge. 

Let me explain. 

I cannot tell you how many people come up to me and passionately give me financial advice, but they are broke. How many management books I have read from experts but after digging a little deeper, they have never actually managed a team of humans. How many single or divorced people passionately give input on my marriage.  Just because the advice SOUNDS like it could be true or it aligns with what you are WANTING to be true, doesn’t make it the truth.  You need to make sure that the person you are receiving advice from is actually qualified to give you their wisdom on that specific subject. Many times authors are not writing about what would work in the real world. Instead, they write books on what SEEMS like great advice with their only goal to sells (GASP!) to the masses. 

Just because someone is perceived as a sage (someone or something who is wise or exhibits signs of wisdom or intelligence) in one area does not automatically qualify them as a sage in all areas. Always check the fruit! If someone has not produced what you are wanting to produce in your own life, you may want to move on to someone else. You are able to get great management tips from a great manager or amazing mentorship from an incredible leader but if these people are twice-divorced and that is not a goal of yours, just take the great management and leadership advice but skip the marriage advice. Too many times people will ask other people for advice simply because they are around. Stop asking your broke friends about finances. Stop asking single friends for marriage advice. Stop asking the business guy who has been stuck for 30 years how to grow your business. Find the best in the area you are needing help in and implement their advice and block out all others.