When you have to make a big decision in your life, you might feel inclined to ask others for advice. While advice can be comforting, you’re probably better off getting information that you can use to make the right decision for you.
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. On his blog, author Ryan Holiday suggests you skip the advice and ask for information instead:
Photo by VFS Digital Design.
…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?”
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. Read more at the link below.
How Do You Make Life-Chaging Decisions? [Ryan Holiday]
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