Who You Listen To Matters

Who You Listen To Matters

Getting advice has never been easier.
A quick scroll through social media, a podcast, a chat with AI these days — and boom, you're set.

But here’s the truth:

The real skill isn’t asking for advice.
It’s knowing who to listen to — and what to do with it.

Everyone Has an Opinion — But Not Everyone Has Skin in the Game

When you’re building something new, advice is everywhere:

Friends and family want to help — but they’re not in it with you.
Professors teach theory, not execution.
Investors offer “guidance” that often protects their own upside.
Mentors give advice based on what worked for them — not always what works for you.

“Backseat driving is a real issue in entrepreneurship… it’s incredibly easy to share an opinion when you’re not in the trenches day to day.”
— Success, Intended

If you’re not careful, well-meaning advice can slowly start pulling you off course.

The Best Advice We Got Came from People Who Said “No”

Some of the most useful feedback we ever received at Instafuel came from people who turned us down.

“True advice is unbiased, uninvested, and usually comes from unlikely sources — that’s what makes it so valuable.”
— Success, Intended

They didn’t have anything to gain.
They weren’t trying to protect their investment.
They just told the truth — and let us decide what to do with it.

One Conversation That Changed How I Filtered Advice

I once asked a mentor why he never accepted equity in the companies he advised.

His answer?

“Unless I’m fully involved, I don’t want equity. Advice shouldn’t be paid for in ownership — it should be earned.”
— Success, Intended

That mindset stuck with me.
Real mentors don’t want a piece — they want to see you win.

Try This 👇

Think about who’s currently influencing your decisions
Ask: Do they benefit from the outcome — or do they truly want what’s best for me?
“Does this help me get closer to my definition of success?”

Next up: Why being a good person in business actually matters — and how it’s become a rare trait to have.