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About a month and a half ago I asked a friend for advice. He’s an entrepneur, runs a business, and is starting a second business. Since I’m still new to freelancing, I had thought he might have some good tips. He didn’t. In fact, his advice was mainly useless aside from a few things I’ve already tried. I don’t blame him-I chalk it up to him not understanding freelancing or my niche, despite his claim that I didn’t.
However, that talk was one of the most productive business talks I’ve had.
How? I turned his bad advice into good advice.
It forced me to think about why his advice struck me as terrible. It forced me to re-assert why I felt that what I was doing was what I should be doing. This thinking led to me coming up with some news ideas, along with causing me to realize how helpful some of the things I was already doing were and kick those idea into high gear. As an added bonus, it also unleashed my highly competitive streak in an attempt to prove him wrong.
Next time you’re offered bad advice, don’t just complain about it-use it to your advantage. Spend some time thinking about why you think it’s bad advice and you’ll generate you’re own helpful advice.
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Comments
05.17.10
Leslie,
Isnt it amazing how everyone volunteers to give advice especially bad ones and worse somehow they think that it is THE best thing for u do. the fact that u were able to make something productive out of the session , shows your self-awareness level & also shows that ur advice-giver wasn't all that crappy.
Some of the worst advice i got: when i was lookin to move within the organization, one of the positions open to me was working for this masochistic jerk. one of my pals at work who had the misfortune of working with him, continuously asked me to take up the position since she thot i was the only 1 who cud 'fix' him. (Lesson learnt - i need to make my career objectives a lil' more clear to ppl)
here's another gem: "hmmm so ur saying ur career has reached a standstill, wait i know...u shud get married" ( We South-Asians are obsessed with marriages & weddings)
Hey do read up on this post below:
http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/06/24/how-to-identify-someone-who-is-...
05.17.10
It's kinda like learning what to do but learning what not to do. Interesting take.
05.17.10
@sadya Thank you for sharing your perspective. Sorry to hear you've had so much experience with bad advice-but I am glad that you were able to cull the important things and learn from it.
05.17.10
@Patrick Exactly! Thank you for the comment!
05.17.10
@leslie as long as ur able to see the humor in such bad advice , no harm done to anyone.
05.17.10
@Sadya As Henry Rollins says, "What doesn't kill you makes you a funny mother-f***er.
05.17.10
@leslie henry & U got it rite!
05.17.10
@Sadya Thank you!
05.18.10
advice as like dont tell a lie and respect others than you give respect . dont beet animal obay your parents and care them because they will help you in childhood .world economy
and allah is one and obay his order .
06.18.10
That is what one should always look at bad things, I totally love what you say, thank you.web hosting
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