I would actually. I honestly would. I'd evaluate what they have to say according to my own sense of what seems sensible and reasonable, but I'd listen to them.

I would actually. I honestly would. I'd evaluate what they have to say according to my own sense of what seems sensible and reasonable, but I'd listen to them. I'd listen to anyone. Maybe that's just me. I treat everybody as someone I can learn from. If nothing else, they have experiences I can learn from. More generally, people are very happy to listen to people who aren't successful, but are trying hard to be, and sharing the wisdom they accumulate along the way. Plenty of great bloggers share just such wisdom. Steve Pavlina is a good example. He started off blogging what he learned, sharing his experiences (including his own low point in prison, if I recall rightly). Then he became successful, partly because of some very popular articles, but also because by the time he wrote those articles he already had a library of other good stuff for people to read and enjoy. He didn't lie to begin with to get people to listen. People listened because he wrote really great articles. (They've gone a bit odd and spiritual the last few years, but that's a different story). Here's the advice: people listen to people who are passionate, who are trying hard, and who are honest, more than people who are 'successful' but none of these other things. Think I'm wrong? Try it both ways and see how far you get.