In this world, everyone has an opinion, everyone gives advice, everyone has something to say about your startup. And yes, sometimes that advice comes from a good place. But the truth is, when you're out on the field, you need more than good intentions.
One of the most useful things I've learned over these years is this: talking to other founders who've already been through something similar can change your company's direction. Because when someone lived it firsthand, their take carries a different weight. They know what hurts, what it costs and, sometimes, what works.
Careful: this isn't about tuning everything else out. Listening is valuable. But if you don't learn to filter what you get, it can cost you big. Some advice comes from theory, some from ego, some from fear. And if you don't have judgment, you can end up going down a road that was never yours.
I've had "mentors" (that I never asked for) give me disastrous advice. One suggested I take $20K for 49% of my startup when I was just getting started. Another, in the middle of the pandemic, told me I'd be better off dropping everything and going to help other companies. Maybe well-meaning, but if I'd listened to them, I wouldn't be where I am today.
🔹 Once, a founder advised me not to sell franchises I'd been offered, even though the deal looked easy and tempting. Thanks to that, I kept my focus where I was already creating value.
🔹 During the pandemic, another founder helped me survive. He taught me to squeeze every dollar and run fast experiments to monetize. He didn't just give me clarity. He gave me time.
💡 Even among founders, not all advice is good. What matters isn't just who's telling you, but whether it fits your context, your stage and your goals. That's why one of the best skills you can build is being a good strainer: hear everything, think it through, and decide what you keep. That filter is part of your job as a founder.
At the end of the day:
- Listen to everyone, but filter with judgment.
- If they lived it, give it more weight.
- Talk to customers. Always.
- Talk to founders. Not for networking, for survival.
🎯 Because if there's one thing that really helps, it's talking to someone who's already lived what you're living.
If you want to read something similar from a different angle, check out my post Do things that don't scale.
