The Value of Advice
"Good advice is only as good as the person you're giving it to." - Johnathan Cross
What say you? Do you think that's true? In the end result, it is.
I could provide excellent advice to a man who won't listen to it. How good is my advice? By itself it might be a perfect way for him to resolve his problem. But if it goes unused, it's just as useless as everything else he actually tries.
Someone using a shotgun as a large stick finds that it is just as dangerous as any other heavy stick.
Such is the value of a shotgun when it is used in such a way. It is no more valuable than a stick.
When giving advice, always keep in mind who you're talking to, how they take your advice, and how they might use your advice.
Advice is also largely dependent on who you are in relation to the person you're providing the advice to. If you were a Formula 1 driver, could you provide the Best advice to a professional motorcycle rider on how best to take a curve? We're all from different backgrounds with different skills and abilities. Our advice should be tailored to the person we're giving it to, and maybe we should consider keeping our mouths shut if it wouldn't be taken well.
What I consider advice may sound less-than-applicable to someone else simply because what I think is wise may be far below someone else's thinking. They might be able to point out immediate flaws in your "wisdom" and verbally tear your mental ability apart, limb from limb.
If you give advice but obviously live different than your advice, you should keep your mouth shut, otherwise proving to your friends that not only are you stupid, but also a liar.
So when SHOULD you give advice?
Don't.
Live the way you would advise people to deal with their problems, then SHARE how you dealt with them. Advise people on their problems only when they come and ask you for help, but don't give advice. Advice is only as valuable as the person you're giving it to, but sharing your own proven solutions to similar problems is a value determined by your success at it.
What say you? Do you think that's true? In the end result, it is.
I could provide excellent advice to a man who won't listen to it. How good is my advice? By itself it might be a perfect way for him to resolve his problem. But if it goes unused, it's just as useless as everything else he actually tries.
Someone using a shotgun as a large stick finds that it is just as dangerous as any other heavy stick.
Such is the value of a shotgun when it is used in such a way. It is no more valuable than a stick.
When giving advice, always keep in mind who you're talking to, how they take your advice, and how they might use your advice.
Advice is also largely dependent on who you are in relation to the person you're providing the advice to. If you were a Formula 1 driver, could you provide the Best advice to a professional motorcycle rider on how best to take a curve? We're all from different backgrounds with different skills and abilities. Our advice should be tailored to the person we're giving it to, and maybe we should consider keeping our mouths shut if it wouldn't be taken well.
What I consider advice may sound less-than-applicable to someone else simply because what I think is wise may be far below someone else's thinking. They might be able to point out immediate flaws in your "wisdom" and verbally tear your mental ability apart, limb from limb.
If you give advice but obviously live different than your advice, you should keep your mouth shut, otherwise proving to your friends that not only are you stupid, but also a liar.
So when SHOULD you give advice?
Don't.
Live the way you would advise people to deal with their problems, then SHARE how you dealt with them. Advise people on their problems only when they come and ask you for help, but don't give advice. Advice is only as valuable as the person you're giving it to, but sharing your own proven solutions to similar problems is a value determined by your success at it.
posted by Johnathan Cross at 9:22 AM
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