What do you do when you need to make an important decision and you are not just certain of which way to go? You ask a friend, or a mentor, or a family member for advice, right? Maybe that is the wrong way to go. How about if I told you there is a better way?
When making big and tough decisions, it is important to seek opinions other than your own, but instead of asking for advice, ask for information! This is because advice from even the most successful people is rooted in their own personal experiences. What was effective for them may not be beneficial to you.
...don’t ask for advice. Ask them for information that you can translate into advice. Isolate the various issues that will influence your decision and ask people about that. By zeroing in on specifics rather than the big picture, you avoid the trap of their (distorted) picture. Simplify your decision into [If this] then [x] or [If that] then [y]. Then use the smart people in your life to help solve for the variables. It’s the difference between asking: “What should I do?” and “Do you know anyone who ran into problems taking some time off from school?”
-- Ryan Holiday
Also, the people you talk to only know what you tell them, so they don’t even have all the pieces to your puzzle. Don’t blindly follow someone’s advice just because they seem sure of it. Gather information from them and use it to make the best decision for you and you alone.
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