It’s very true that there are many voices worth listening to out there that relate to business, entrepreneurialism, investing, and raising your professional profile. This is why we spend as much time as possible interviewing these legitimate and worthwhile voices, to make sure that the best advice is disseminated, heard, and applied.
That said, the very nature of the internet means that everyone gets a voice, which is an excellent thing, but it can also be an unfortunate prospect from time to time. There are many deceptive, uninformed or sometimes willfully mistaken sources out there that can lead even the most well-intentioned and discerning entrepreneurs down sticky roads.
For instance, consider the recent advice spreading around trading stocks thanks to GameSpot and the GME short squeeze – making international headlines. For a new investor, this hype could have convinced them to part with more cash than they could afford. Luckily, trading platforms and in some cases a coin trade ledger can help them stay legitimate in their trading, but it’s true that bad advice, outside of these worthwhile principles, can still be found.
How can you disseminate the good advice from the bad? Here are some worthwhile tips:
Check The Source
It’s always important to verify who the person is that’s giving you advice. It’s much better to listen to someone who is actively engaged in the business world than someone who is trying to appear as if they are. Checking credentials and the history of said speaker can be quite worthwhile to help you know if their advice is reliable – because this can also help you open your eyes to people outside of your field. There are many excellent speakers like David Goggins who come from alternate schools to business (in this case, the special forces) and learning leadership principles from them might be worth heeding. That kind of advice and implementation can be truly worthwhile in the long run – just verify the source.
Beware Flashy Imagery Or Overselling
Never accept someone trying to give you a quick means to overcome the hard work. From showcasing quick shortcuts to overly representing the visual and lifestyle themes of being successful rather than the brass tacks, this is the equivalent of renting a car for the weekend compared to owning one and knowing how the engine works. Beware flash imagery or overselling in all instances – it almost never pans out and is almost never reliable.
Learn From Mistakes As Much As Successes
People can often deceive when it comes to telling you their life story and their successes – from how much work they may have put in (carefully neglecting familial investments or help they may have had), or making out as if they’re more intelligent than they may actually be. However, when it comes to someone earnestly discussing a mistake they made and how to avoid it, well, they have little ego boost to gain from that. This means that you too may find kernels of truth worth paying attention to – an old Hebrew proverb suggests that the wise man learns from the mistakes of those around him, not only his own.
With this advice, we hope you can avoid fake or misleading entrepreneurial advice, and stick to resources like ours geared to help you through and through.