Simon Squibb on LinkedIn: Why You Should Only Take Advice From Those Who’ve Done It

In a recent LinkedIn post, Simon Squibb discusses a fundamental yet often overlooked principle for seeking and receiving advice: the importance of ensuring the advisor has firsthand experience in the area they are advising on. Squibb emphasizes that the most valuable guidance comes not from those who merely talk about success, but from those who have demonstrably achieved it.

Squibb opens with a strong assertion about his personal filter for advice:

I never take advice from people who haven’t done it.

This straightforward filter, according to Squibb, is surprisingly underutilized. He illustrates this point by highlighting common scenarios where individuals seek guidance from those lacking relevant practical experience. This includes taking financial advice from individuals in suits who have never built anything, career advice from parents who have remained in the same role for decades, or business advice from podcast hosts who have never operated a business outside of their show.

The Criticality of Lived Experience

Squibb argues that the issue is not necessarily the character of the advisor, but their suitability for the specific advice being sought. He posits that the only advice truly worth heeding originates from individuals who have already navigated the path a person is trying to tread.

The only advice worth listening to comes from someone who’s already been where you’re trying to go.

He urges readers to scrutinize the life and achievements of potential advisors before accepting their counsel. Key questions to consider, as outlined by Squibb, involve whether the advisor has successfully built what they are advising on or lived the consequences of the decisions they are recommending.

Evaluating an Advisor’s Credentials

According to Simon Squibb, the process of vetting advice should be rigorous. He suggests a clear binary approach:

• If the advisor has demonstrable experience and has lived the results of the advice they offer, listen intently.
• If they lack this direct experience, it is best to politely acknowledge their input and disregard it.

Squibb points out a common disconnect: many people offer advice throughout their lives without realizing they are unqualified to do so, while many others accept this unqualified advice without recognizing its limitations.

Most people will give you advice their entire life and never realise they’re not qualified to give it.

He concludes by stressing the gravity of life’s most significant decisions, asserting that they warrant a higher standard of guidance than unqualified opinions. Squibb’s core message is a call to action for individuals to be more discerning about their sources of information.

Choosing Your Mentors Wisely

In essence, Squibb advocates for a proactive and critical approach to mentorship and advice-seeking. He believes that by carefully selecting who to learn from, individuals can significantly improve the quality of their decision-making and increase their chances of success.

Pick your sources properly. Then act.

This principle, as highlighted by Squibb, encourages a focus on actionable insights derived from proven success, rather than theoretical knowledge or well-intentioned but inexperienced opinions. His post serves as a timely reminder for professionals at all levels to evaluate the source of their guidance and ensure it aligns with their aspirations and the realities of achieving them.