Who Are You Taking Advice From?

by Debbie Ruston, Featured Contributor

ISN’T IT interesting how often people want to give us advice that whom are not qualified to give us that specific advice, yet before we understand this concept, we often have the experience where we give in to their beliefs instead of our own?

Here’s an example:  A young woman wants to start her own business and leave her nursing career, but  a “well meaning” co-worker is attempting to discourage her stating that most businesses fail.  This is an employee giving advice on what it takes to be successful in business.  This person has never been a business owner, yet is attempting to advise on this subject.   She is not qualified to give advice, and has no experience or credibility in the subject area.  She is giving advice based on what she has “heard”, not on what she has experience in.  Yet, this happens to people every day….they take “well meaning” advice from people in their lives that have no business giving them advice because they have not had success in that area.

So many people are talked out of their dreams every day because of this type of “well meaning” individual.  It is such a simple concept – only take advice from those that have had success in the area you want to improve upon.  If you want to build a stronger more loving marriage, ask the couple who has the best relationship you know.  If you want to advance in your career, ask the person that has done what you want to do.  Learning not to take advice from these stoppers in our lives is one of the best ways to build trust in your own decisions.

Without identifying specifics, share what category your biggest stopper was –

-a family member
-a friend
-a co-worker
-an educator or coach (sports or other)

This will assist others in recognizing how we are surrounded by stoppers in our closest circles, but despite that, we can choose to step outside of the advice they give and create success anyway.