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I think the single most important thing I've learned in my career, for my startup, and for my life is that I'm the only one responsible. The fact is, everyone

I think the single most important thing I've learned in my career, for my startup, and for my life is that I'm the only one responsible. The fact is, everyone can give you advice, it's cheap. However, it's only based off their experience and their responsibility. You can never have too much advice, you just have to see how similar the situation is to see if it's useful. What exemplified this in my mind, was when I received advice to not go down a particular path with my technical architecture. Yet, 6 months down the line, the architecture works very well, and that same "advisor" has since changed their mind. Because it's only based off personal experience, and no one can experience things that haven't happened, it's worth weighting advice based on a situation-by-situation basis.

rckclmbr 8y ago
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those that supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the last from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than its worth.
- HeyLaughingBoy 8y ago
  You should at least credit Baz Luhrmann if you're going to quote that. At least put it in quotes so it doesn't look like you're trying to take credit for it.
  - rckclmbr 8y ago
    It was actually mary schmich, but i thought the song was universally known at this point.
    - deleted 8y ago
      [deleted]
    - HeyLaughingBoy 8y ago
      Huh! TIL!
akharris 8y ago
I often find myself telling founders "you're the boss, you decide." This is a core operating principle for how we think about advice to startups at YC.
ysavir 8y ago
Agreed, and I think that's the blog post's ultimate conclusion: Don't find an adviser that makes decisions for you, but an adviser that helps you make your own decisions. A good adviser won't even reveal their thoughts and feelings on the subject.
jimmy1 8y ago
> What exemplified this in my mind, was when I received advice to not go down a particular path with my technical architecture. Yet, 6 months down the line, the architecture works very well, and that same "advisor" has since changed their mind. Do you have perhaps other examples where you would have much better off or better served had you did listen to someone maybe potentially wiser/more experienced/older than you? I sure have. I know we remember the things we remember, but I bet the times where I didn't listen and should have are a thousand to one, I just choose to remember that one more vividly for some reason. I gel with the sentiment, but then looking at some other comments on this subject, it does seem to be a very westernized, "American individualism" view on the matter. I wonder what Japanese business leaders would say about the subject?
- citilife 8y ago
  I think my point, was: A. All advice, is just a prediction of the future, based on prior results. As we don't know the future, we should be cautious of making business decisions solely from advice. B. Advisors are making predictions off their prior knowledge. As each persons prior knowledge doesn't fit the exact situation, you have to weight the advice based on how close the match is. There are times where someone has suggested - "You can do X to test assumption Y." OR "Why not pivot into Z?" Of course there have been good outcomes and counter examples, but that wasn't the point. The point of my statement and the article, was you are the one responsible, so don't passively accept advice; actively think about it's merits. Also, as an aside there's no reason to bring up "American Individualism". IMO that comes off like you're looking through a lens, specifically against it. As opposed to looking at merits of the discussion and questioning them. There's no point in thinking what a Japanese business leader would think, vs a Syrian refugee or American Entrepreneur - the advice in the article and my comment is to be wary of advice (laying out reasons). This is all regardless of culture, race, or creed.
  - jimmy1 8y ago
    Your aside might sound nice in theory, but it isn't reality. Everything is viewed through some lens or another, hell, it's how our brains work. If it comes off that way, you misinterpreted my intention. Not understanding the lens that you are looking through is how you end up with lack of understanding or not having a holistic viewpoint.

rckclmbr 8y ago

Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those that supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the last from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than its worth.

HeyLaughingBoy 8y ago
You should at least credit Baz Luhrmann if you're going to quote that. At least put it in quotes so it doesn't look like you're trying to take credit for it.
- rckclmbr 8y ago
  It was actually mary schmich, but i thought the song was universally known at this point.
  - deleted 8y ago
    [deleted]
  - HeyLaughingBoy 8y ago
    Huh! TIL!

akharris 8y ago

I often find myself telling founders "you're the boss, you decide." This is a core operating principle for how we think about advice to startups at YC.

ysavir 8y ago

Agreed, and I think that's the blog post's ultimate conclusion: Don't find an adviser that makes decisions for you, but an adviser that helps you make your own decisions. A good adviser won't even reveal their thoughts and feelings on the subject.

jimmy1 8y ago

> What exemplified this in my mind, was when I received advice to not go down a particular path with my technical architecture. Yet, 6 months down the line, the architecture works very well, and that same "advisor" has since changed their mind. Do you have perhaps other examples where you would have much better off or better served had you did listen to someone maybe potentially wiser/more experienced/older than you? I sure have. I know we remember the things we remember, but I bet the times where I didn't listen and should have are a thousand to one, I just choose to remember that one more vividly for some reason. I gel with the sentiment, but then looking at some other comments on this subject, it does seem to be a very westernized, "American individualism" view on the matter. I wonder what Japanese business leaders would say about the subject?

citilife 8y ago
I think my point, was: A. All advice, is just a prediction of the future, based on prior results. As we don't know the future, we should be cautious of making business decisions solely from advice. B. Advisors are making predictions off their prior knowledge. As each persons prior knowledge doesn't fit the exact situation, you have to weight the advice based on how close the match is. There are times where someone has suggested - "You can do X to test assumption Y." OR "Why not pivot into Z?" Of course there have been good outcomes and counter examples, but that wasn't the point. The point of my statement and the article, was you are the one responsible, so don't passively accept advice; actively think about it's merits. Also, as an aside there's no reason to bring up "American Individualism". IMO that comes off like you're looking through a lens, specifically against it. As opposed to looking at merits of the discussion and questioning them. There's no point in thinking what a Japanese business leader would think, vs a Syrian refugee or American Entrepreneur - the advice in the article and my comment is to be wary of advice (laying out reasons). This is all regardless of culture, race, or creed.
- jimmy1 8y ago
  Your aside might sound nice in theory, but it isn't reality. Everything is viewed through some lens or another, hell, it's how our brains work. If it comes off that way, you misinterpreted my intention. Not understanding the lens that you are looking through is how you end up with lack of understanding or not having a holistic viewpoint.