In a recent LinkedIn post, Noemikis explores the critical distinction between seeking advice from those who have navigated a path and those who have only observed it. The post, which has garnered significant attention, highlights a common pitfall for aspiring entrepreneurs: soliciting guidance from individuals lacking direct experience in their chosen field.
Noemikis begins by recounting a personal realization, stating:
Stop asking people for directions to places they’ve never been.
This statement serves as the central thesis for the author’s argument. Noemikis details how, in the nascent stages of their business, they sought counsel from a wide array of sources, including friends without entrepreneurial experience, well-meaning but uninformed family members, and anonymous internet voices. The consequence, as described in the post, was internalizing the limitations and fears of these individuals.
The Perils of ‘Passenger Seat’ Advice
The core of Noemikis’s message revolves around the concept of advice givers operating from the ‘passenger seat.’ According to Noemikis, these individuals offer perspectives based on observation rather than lived experience. They have not personally undertaken the risks, faced the challenges, or navigated the uncertainties inherent in building something new.
Noemikis elaborates on this point:
Most people are giving advice from the passenger seat. They’ve never driven the route. They’ve never taken the risk. They’ve never walked the path.
This analogy underscores the unreliability of guidance from those who haven’t personally experienced the journey. Noemikis argues that such advice can inadvertently instill fear, hesitation, and a tendency towards ‘small thinking’ in the advisee, potentially derailing their ambitions.
Shifting the Source of Guidance
The turning point for Noemikis, as detailed in the post, was a conscious decision to change the nature and source of the advice sought. Instead of relying on unqualified opinions, the author began to actively learn from individuals who had demonstrable success and relevant experience.
Noemikis shares the new criteria for seeking guidance:
- Founders who’d built what I wanted to build
- Creators who showed their work (not just talked)
- Mentors who’d failed and kept going
This shift, according to Noemikis, led to a gradual reduction in feelings of being lost and an increased clarity of direction. The emphasis is on seeking out those with ‘proof, not just opinions.’
Identifying Reliable Mentorship
A key takeaway from Noemikis’s post is the importance of vetting advisors. The author proposes a direct and effective question to ask oneself before accepting advice:
“Have they actually done the thing I’m trying to do?”
This pragmatic approach encourages individuals to prioritize tangible evidence of success and experience over mere pronouncements or theories. Noemikis suggests that if the answer is no, it’s often best to continue on one’s own path, trusting one’s own developing intuition and direction.
In essence, Noemikis’s LinkedIn post serves as a compelling call to action for entrepreneurs and builders to be highly discerning about the advice they consume. By strategically choosing mentors and sources of information, individuals can better navigate the complexities of their ventures and avoid the pitfalls of unqualified guidance.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Noemikis on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on June 1, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →