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Eleanor Roosevelt made a wise statement when she said: "Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." I would like to add to her statement: Why experience the pain when you can find someone else who already has?
This thought process underscores the value of learning from others' experiences. In life and business, mistakes and failures are inevitable, but they are also valuable learning opportunities. By seeking advice and learning from those who have already navigated similar challenges, you can avoid common pitfalls and accelerate your progress. This is the fastest way to learn and a lot less painful.
To me, seeking advice is just the smart thing to do. It will:
SAVE YOU TIME AND ENERGY because they will direct you as to what to do and what to avoid.
ALLOW YOU TO GAIN NEW PERSPECTIVES, different viewpoints, and fresh insights that you may not have considered.
GREATLY ENHANCE YOUR DECISION PROCESS by being well-informed on the dos and don’ts so you can design a more efficient game plan.
HELP YOU IDENTIFY THE SKILLS you will need to accomplish your task so you can enhance the ones you already have and develop the ones you will need.
EDUCATE YOU ON WHAT NEEDS TO CHANGE if you are to effectively face your new challenges and opportunities.
PROVIDE YOU WITH THE TOOLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND SUPPORT needed to achieve your goals more efficiently and effectively.
The problem with good advice is that it tends to affect the plans you have already made. If you aren’t willing to change those plans, then there is NO REASON to even ask. World-famous author Gordon Dickson once said: "Some people like my advice so much that they frame it upon the wall instead of using it."
Advice is worthless if not used. This emphasizes the crucial gap between receiving guidance and implementing it. In life, we often seek advice from mentors, friends, or professionals. These insights can be invaluable, offering new perspectives, solutions, or paths to success. However, the mere act of listening to advice does not bring about change or improvement.
The value of advice lies in its execution. Without implementation, advice is like an unopened book on a shelf—full of potential knowledge but ultimately useless. Therefore, it's essential to not only seek and listen to advice but also take the necessary steps to apply it in our lives. Only then can we truly benefit from the wisdom and experience of others.
Proverbs 19:20 says it best:
"Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future."