Sometimes I’m asked if I have any “advice” for the young’uns. I seem to give a different answer every time. Today’s answer is:
ADVICE:
Stop taking advice and stop asking for it.
The world is unlimited! There are a zillion ways to do things. Don’t be afraid of doing things wrong. The only way we make progress is from trying things, and that means a lot of failure. I’ve been helped by other peoples’ failures – they show me what not to do, so I can learn from their mistakes – and I hope my failures help other people succeed too. So even failure is a social contribution, as long as you’re failing YOUR way. An authentic failure is worth 100 insincere successes.
Do it YOUR way, not my way.
Looking to others to tell you what to do and how to do it is a bad habit. You can learn a lot just by observing. Let your observations be your teachers. What people SAY is not the same as what they DO, so pay attention to what they DO and learn from that.
If there’s something you can’t learn from observing, do some research. If research still doesn’t answer your question, THEN ask for advice. If you go straight to asking for advice, and expecting your answers there, you will miss out on all kinds of observations and learning.
That is my advice.
But what if they have done the research, but haven’t said so?
They don’t have to say whether they’ve done the research. They ask totally different questions when they do.
Very wise words. I’ll definitely follow this advice.
…or not follow it. Or–well, you get the idea.
Thanks for the advice… but should i follow it?? hmm.. no need.. or should i? or is it? or. or … wait.. i will go and research instead..
😀
good article though..