3 ms·

So many of the articles I read are actually devoid of good advice. The consist of generalities and one-off experiences that don't actually resonate outside a sp

by MJR 16y ago

So many of the articles I read are actually devoid of good advice. The consist of generalities and one-off experiences that don't actually resonate outside a specific set or circumstances. The first step to writing a good advice article would be to actually have good advice worth sharing.

swombat 16y ago
That's only partially true. Even if all you've done is work for a startup for 6 months, you already have something to share - with those who haven't even done that. If you take even one step on the way, there are a lot more people behind you than ahead of you.
- jimboyoungblood 16y ago
  If you're only 6 months in, you have no idea where your startup will end up. Your advice might be helping others, but it's also possible you're leading them off a cliff.
  - swombat 16y ago
    But that shouldn't stop you from sharing your experiences, so long as you include the right amount of context so that others can make their own judgement about the topic. Ultimately people have to become smart enough to make their own judgement about the information you provide. So long as you don't present yourself as an authority when you're clearly not, I don't see anything wrong with sharing your point of view. In fact, it is, among other things, a great way to learn - from the feedback of others who might read your points and explain why you're wrong.
jimboyoungblood 16y ago
There's nothing wrong with writing about one-off experiences. For someone in similar circumstances, such advice could prove to be the most valuable. What's awful are the articles written by first-time entrepreneurs or wantrepreneurs who have yet to do anything. They're mostly harmless, but sometimes they give horrifically bad advice. As a rule, most of the great entrepreneurs I know don't blog.
- MJR 16y ago
  I really meant one-off as in it could only happen that way and only to you. There's nothing wrong with WRITING about those experiences, the problem as I see it is thinking that you have advice to give about any random topic or item you've experienced simply because you've experienced it.

by MJR 16y ago

swombat 16y ago

That's only partially true. Even if all you've done is work for a startup for 6 months, you already have something to share - with those who haven't even done that. If you take even one step on the way, there are a lot more people behind you than ahead of you.

jimboyoungblood 16y ago
If you're only 6 months in, you have no idea where your startup will end up. Your advice might be helping others, but it's also possible you're leading them off a cliff.
- swombat 16y ago
  But that shouldn't stop you from sharing your experiences, so long as you include the right amount of context so that others can make their own judgement about the topic. Ultimately people have to become smart enough to make their own judgement about the information you provide. So long as you don't present yourself as an authority when you're clearly not, I don't see anything wrong with sharing your point of view. In fact, it is, among other things, a great way to learn - from the feedback of others who might read your points and explain why you're wrong.

jimboyoungblood 16y ago

There's nothing wrong with writing about one-off experiences. For someone in similar circumstances, such advice could prove to be the most valuable. What's awful are the articles written by first-time entrepreneurs or wantrepreneurs who have yet to do anything. They're mostly harmless, but sometimes they give horrifically bad advice. As a rule, most of the great entrepreneurs I know don't blog.

MJR 16y ago
I really meant one-off as in it could only happen that way and only to you. There's nothing wrong with WRITING about those experiences, the problem as I see it is thinking that you have advice to give about any random topic or item you've experienced simply because you've experienced it.