Advice

The Thing About Advice

The Thing About Advice

Garth Beyer

There’s a lot of advice out there. Really good advice. Advice because other people took risks, learned from them and don’t want you to make the same mistakes.

That is all good and fun, but it’s partly wrong.

I remember a time when I was younger and living with my dad. He was trying to tell me to not do something that he did when he was my age. I turned to him and asked if he regretted the choices he made. I said to him, “What if. What if I do everything exactly as you tell me, that I do everything you suggest the way you suggest it. Then what. Am I supposed to be happy? It won’t be my life then.”

True advice is when someone suggests you do something a certain way but doesn’t resent you if you don’t. This is what I want you to keep an ear out for with this new year.

I want you to take the risks, make the mistakes, fail, but fail fast. If something isn’t clear that it’s the wrong choice, then it’s up to you to see whatever choice you make as the right one and not let anyone else make that judgement for you.

 

Stay Positive & This Is YOUR Life

Garth E. Beyer

Photo credit

 

The Problem With Advice, Suggestions, And Orders

Garth Beyer

It’s one thing to give them out to someone; to think critically before doing so with a selfless goal in mind.

It’s another to be given advice, suggestions or orders from someone. Most of what people recommend, suggest or oder 659315_5ba9794c89you to do is what they would have liked to do themselves. In essence, they are attempting to live and learn from the experience through you. It’s a great way to learn, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not a great way for you to learn.

So many of us have a curious tendency when it comes to decision-making, especially when its other people making the decisions. We’re more risky when giving advice to someone because we’re not the ones who will follow through with it, receiving consequences and all.

I’ve even given advice that I would never do for the single reason of wanting to know how it would have turned out. (Full disclosure: We were both interested in what would happen if he took my advice.)

Quit plainly, we’re reckless when it comes to advice, suggestions, and orders.

Which is why I’m telling you of a solution to it. Ask.

 

Stay Positive & Ask, Ask, Ask

Garth E. Beyer

Photo credit

Surprises

Garth Beyer

GROUCHO

It’s sort of tacky to start this way, but… everyone loves surprises.* Your friend, your customer, your girlfriend, your client, your dentist – they all love surprises. The reason being is that they know what they are getting from you and giving in return.

The relationship, a dentist, for example, is a simple transaction: give your dentist money, the dentist gives your teeth a cleaning and you some sound advice on how to take care of your teeth.

Then throw in a surprise and see how the relationship changes.

You give your dentist money, the dentist gives your teeth a cleaning, you some sound advice on how to take care of your teeth, and a $25 gift card to Red Mango. Not because you didn’t cry through the fluoride, but because your dentist simply can.

Guess who won’t be changing dentists anytime soon?

If you’ve been won over by a surprise, well, I don’t need to explain why they matter or the personal result of them. If you haven’t been won over by a surprise, go surprise someone and see how the relationship shifts.

Still not sold on surprises? Look at the following two examples.

1. Birthday

2. Birthday surprise

 

Stay Positive & It’s Not Rocket Science**

Garth E. Beyer

*If you’re shaking your head in disagreement, you’ve just had people who don’t really know you try to surprise you. Look at the meaning behind the attempt and not the actual surprise.

**I would argue rocket science is getting much easier to do. Alas, an argument for another day.

Steps To Comfort

Garth Beyer

3459828697_74dfd5ef42

I’m still smirking from when the idea for this post first popped in my mind.  I am far from ever liking the idea of getting comfortable. In fact, I advocate the complete opposite, that you get uncomfortable.

Then I read the following advice,

“Challenge yourself. Take greater and greater risks. Don’t stay in your comfort zone; enjoy the comfort at the end of each step.”

How true is the last statement. It means that when you finally get your cake, make sure to eat it too. Enjoy the accomplishment. Enjoy the new sense of familiarity. Enjoy being comfortable with meeting new goals.

I never thought comfort could be associated with moving forward. Proved me wrong.

 

Stay Positive & “Get Comfortable” Still Feels Weird Saying

Garth E. Beyer

Photo credit