With an overload of information and achievers sharing their experiences and learning for free on the internet, how do you decide whom to listen? How do you decide that if what you are listen to, is legit or just some bogus quotations of beautiful words bundled together as “good advice”? How do you differ sound advice that takes you forward, and words that may make you feel good at the moment but never take you ahead?
Okay, so now I’m finally writing that blog — the one about taking advice.
See, this blog on taking advice has been sitting in my drafts for quite a long time. The thing about taking advice from anyone is this: advice is only as good as the person you’re taking it from.
For example, if I suddenly start giving you advice on how to become a CEO, and you take it — even if it sounds good — things like:
“A CEO should be quick in decision-making, firm in their stance, smart, have a good sense of ethics, be an expert in their field…”
Let’s say it’s a tech company — then obviously, the CEO should be solid on technical grounds, know how to manage people, and so on and so forth.
Now I can keep listing these “CEO requirements” forever, but at the end of the day, all of that just boils down to being a good human, right? Nothing I said is CEO-exclusive. It’s the kind of stuff anyone should aspire to.
The difference is — if a real CEO gives you advice, and I give you advice, it’s going to be miles apart. What I can help you with is probably… how to learn something well. Because that’s what I’ve done over the past year or two.
I’ve done my best to learn Python, JavaScript, and all that. I landed an internship. I got a job as a software engineer. So yeah, if you want to become an engineer — or want to know how to get a job — that’s something I can help you with.
But if you’re asking for advice on, say, how to crack a ₹45 lakh package — I’m probably not the guy for that. I haven’t cracked it yet. You should go to someone who has.
Maybe I’ll crack it later. But right now? Not the best person for that advice.
If you come to me for help with how I cleared my SSB — sure, I can help a bit. But even that was five years ago. Someone who’s done it recently would most likely be able to guide you much better.
It’s like this: if you want to learn physics deeply, but you go to someone who’s an expert in English or law — well, then you’re the one who’s confused about where to seek advice.
That’s why great leaders and the wisest people out there — they are really good at choosing who to take advice from. Because that decision alone makes a hell of a difference.
An expert in the field will give you advice that’s on another level entirely. Someone who’s just read a few blogs, or had a couple of conversations with a sociopath or a know-it-all — their advice won’t get you far. There’s just no use in listening to that kind of talk.
So yes — seek advice. But seek it from people who really know what they’re talking about. Learn from them. Listen closely. Reflect on what they say. And then, think for yourself. Keep that cycle going.
That’s how you take advice.
For example — if you want to be a cricketer, take advice from Virat Kohli. That works. Now, I’m not saying a footballer can’t give you advice on how to work hard — that might still be useful. Saying the truth, working with integrity — these are universal values. They’re not advice in the real sense. These are things you’ll pick up along the way.
What real advice looks like — the kind that actually makes a difference — is in-depth knowledge that takes years to acquire. That kind of understanding can’t be faked. And when someone can pass that on to you — that’s what we call education. Passing down knowledge that’s too valuable to let die.
So yeah — be very careful about who you take your advice from.
And if you’re ever in a position to give advice — make sure you provide value.