Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.
When should you ignore advice from an investor or advisor?
1. It Isn’t True to Your Mission
Ignoring advice is never easy, but it is necessary when people blindly apply detailed actions or tasks to a situation/model you know they haven’t fully comprehended. Large scale recommendations that go against the very principles of why you embarked on this journey should be disregarded. Stay true to your mission. Keep external advice focused around common occurrences.
– Michael Spinosa, Unleashed Technologies
2. The Context It’s Based on Is Outdated
Sometimes investors/advisors think because they have 30 or more years of experience than you, they know how to handle situations. While many situations are the same as they used to be once you peel back the layers of the onion, many are not. Reframing the advice in the context of modern business and listening to your gut are very important.
– Michael Kleinmann, The Underwear Expert, Inc.
3. They Can’t Substantiate It
If you receive advice from an investor or advisor that just doesn’t feel right, ask them to support their position. If they can’t articulate exactly why they advocate for a certain decision or can’t substantiate their position with past experiences, then you should consider passing on the advice. When asking, politely state that you want additional insight so you can better understand.
– Andrew Thomas, SkyBell Video Doorbell
4. Their Background Isn’t Aligned With What You‘re Doing
I also consider the background of the investor/advisor and take their advice accordingly. Everyone wants to give you advice, and there is such a thing as bad advice. If you are taking business advice, make sure they’ve personally been there and done that.
– Brandon Stapper, 858 Graphics
5. It Doesn’t Resonate
Savvy leaders are good listeners, but that doesn’t mean they take all advice they are given. If advice, even from a key advisor, doesn’t resonate with you, than it isn’t the right move for your business. That said, ignoring advice from respected sources is sloppy. Reflect on what you don’t agree with, and why you are choosing a different path. That reflection will make you and your company stronger.
– Erica Easley, Gumball Poodle
6. They Interfere in Day-to-Day Activities
Investors and advisors are there to support long-term goals and management, not for micromanagement. As a business owner, youshould have full freedom for day-to-day operation. If investors/advisors are meddling with your daily work or tend to advise you on trivial items, you want toignore them or express your displeasure. You can listen to them, but be the final decision maker.
7. It’s Hard and Fast
Advice, whether paid or free, is just that — advice. It’s never a “must do.” It’s a “Hmm, maybe I should.” When it comes to not taking advice, any that comes hard and fast is usually worth turning down. “Dan, you have to change;” or “Dan, I’ve seen this a million times, you‘re doing it wrong!” I still consider the source, but most often, I won’t implement.
8. It’s Short-Term
At LexION Capital, I advise a long-term approach to investing, and the same holds true for entrepreneurship. Chasing short term gains will not ensure long-term success. You should always be looking at how advice will affect you years down the road, because any gains now could be ruined out by potential damage in the future. Any advice that doesn’t follow this should be thrown out the window.
9. They Are a “Check-in Advisor”
The number one thing to look out for is advisors or mentors that are assigned to you via an incubator or accelerator that seem to jump in, have a bunch of ideas, and then jump out of conversations. These advisors are very easy to spot after about one or two meetings. They want you to make major critical changes but then don’t respond to emails when you have questions. Fire them fast (you can).
– Roger Bryan, Enfusen Digital Marketing
10. Never Ignore Advice
Never ignore advice. The real question is whether or not you use that advice or act upon that advice, but you can’t do either if yousimply ignore it. If someone is offering guidance, be happy to receive it, whether or not it’s in line with your own thoughts. It allows you to look at it from another position and evaluate which direction to choose.
11. It Ignores Customer Data
Investors and advisors provide invaluable expertise, but they can be wrong. If you suffer from the HIPPO complex (i.g., Highest-Paid-Person’s Opinion counts most), remember: that’s not your customer. If investors ignore customer data, ignore them. Following such advice shows your customers, employees and colleagues that you cower when things get tough.
CATEGORY: Entrepreneurship