Don’t Follow Last Season’s Business Advice

When it comes to running a business, there is no shortage of advice. Entrepreneurs are inundated with information on how to succeed from books and articles to seminars and podcasts. However, it’s important to remember that all business advice is relative, and you can’t take any advice at face value. There is almost NO ADVICE worth blindly following.

Every business is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. Moreover, business advice is often given by people who have had success in their own ventures, but that doesn’t mean their advice will be relevant to your business. Many times, a serious amount of luck was involved in their success, and you may or may not experience this.

For example, there is a wonderful book by Gino Wickman called Traction. I’ve recommended the book to many. Too me, the book comes down to Focus – get everyone in your business rowing in the same direction, and focus on what you are uniquely qualified to deliver. It’s a great message.

But is it always right? No. Many people achieve success through gimmicks. You’ve likely seen people be successful by getting one celebrity endorsement or having a page get stuck on the top of Youtube’s recommendations. Perhaps they rode a trend or took a cab ride with a billionaire who invested in their business. Even somethings as fundamental as “Focus on your business” has to come with a caveat.

This isn’t to say that all business advice is bad or useless. There are certainly best practices and proven strategies that can help businesses succeed. However, it’s important to approach any advice critically and consider how it applies to your unique situation.

Hiring the best people should be a truism – but plenty of companies go bust hiring the best. Being lean and efficient is usually good – but Reid Hoffman’s past success suggests you should blitz scale and scale up lightning fast. The point is – you can’t generalize, and surprisingly few messages can be treated as dogma.  

Another factor to remember is that the business landscape is constantly changing. What worked a few years ago may be irrelevant today. If I’ve learned anything general and true, trends matter more than you think. Timing matters, a lot. Unless it doesn’t, of course, following my own anti-advice.

So, what’s the solution? First and foremost, it’s important to take a customized approach to your business. Rather than blindly following advice, take the time to assess your unique needs and challenges, and tailor your strategies accordingly. Think long-term and plan for the future, but re-evaluate daily, and do what’s best for your business today.

It’s also important to seek out a variety of sources for advice. Don’t just rely on one guru or expert in your industry. Instead, seek a range of perspectives and insights, and consider how they fit into your overall strategy. Don’t be married to one approach.

Ultimately, the key to success in business is a combination of trial and error, strategic thinking, and a willingness to adapt and evolve over time. While advice and guidance from others can certainly be helpful, it’s important to remember that every business is unique and requires a customized approach.