On Giving And Taking Advice
The worst vice is advice - John Milton
The thing about being an entrepreneur for some time is that a lot of people starting out reach out for guidance and advice. As someone who has advised and taken advice from many, I realized that there is one big problem - many people give the same advice to everyone.
Most advice or recommendations are bad because they are one size fits all: don’t take so much risk, follow your passion, work hard, listen to your parents.
The problem is that some people need to take risks. Others need to take fewer risks. Following your passion and starting up in a field that one does not know deeply about might have worked for some, but it might not be the best thing for you.
Some people need to work harder, while others might already be on edge and burnt out. They need to take it easy.
Listening to parents’ advice is good, in most cases. But blindly taking career advice from parents might be a bad idea. Their view of the job market might be either very old or heavily influenced by their profession, which might be very different from yours.
Often, the advice you receive falls in the category - right for many, just not for you.
I think the most valuable advice and recommendations are the ones that help you improve your general judgement or understanding of your situation; help you consider perspectives that you might have missed; evaluate your possible options and the tradeoffs involved. And then leave it for you to make the decision.
When giving advice, don’t assume that the person asking doesn’t know much, and hence anything you recommend shall be for the better. Most importantly, if you find yourself giving the same advice to everyone, then stop and reflect. THE most important thing about advising someone is understanding their context first and providing guidance accordingly.
When asking for advice, know that while the person you are asking might be an expert, it’s possible that what worked for them might not work out for you. Never ask what they would do if they’re in your situation; instead, look for fresh perspectives on your situation.
Best,
Kaddy