Episode 252: Ways To Mindfully Accept Advice

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who wanted to share their opinions and advice on how you should run your business? Maybe this well-intentioned advice was unsolicited and you didn’t know how to respond, or maybe it got the wheels turning and forced you to doubt yourself. In today’s episode, I want to highlight how you can mindfully accept advice so that you’re continuing to pursue your goals for your own success. If today’s episode resonates with you and you want to show support for the show, here’s an easy way to do so: Buy Me A Coffee! Ways To Mindfully Accept Advice Earlier this year, I was having a conversation with a student inside of The Brand Strategy School who was struggling with knowing what advice to follow when she had so many opinions coming at her. My take on this is a little spicy—meaning I kindly decline any advice from people who aren’t in our business. We live in an age where there is a lot of noise—we have to be intentional in what we consume, including advice. You should put a boundary in place to make sure you’re not overwhelming yourself. When people want to share their advice with you, even when it comes from a well-intentioned place, they’re not actively in your business or understand your goals. They don’t have to live with the choices you make in your business either. What to Do When You Receive Unsolicited Advice It’s bound to happen with your friends, family, or colleagues—someone wants to share their advice about your business—unsolicited. When this happens, it’s easy to freeze and not know what to do, but here are a few things to consider to stay respectful and handle it in a way that feels comfortable to you: * Listen, thank them, and forget what they shared. * Set a boundary by saying, “I appreciate you sharing that with me, but to be clear, I’m not asking advice on this situation, so let’s change the conversation.” There may be push back, but that’s where you can explain that you have a support system. Here are a few places you can look for support instead: Therapy, Business Coach, Group Coaching Programs, Team Members, and Industry Friends The Benefit of Setting Boundaries It is so easy to get distracted by what others are sharing and pouring into you with unsolicited advice. By setting up boundaries with those people, you will continue to keep your clarity in your business to run it for your own success. It’s okay if you struggle to set and keep boundaries, as they do take time to implement. And yes, boundaries can be uncomfortable, but you are not responsible for how others respond to the boundaries you set. The next time you’re presented with advice that makes you question how you’re running your business and if you should change things around, ask yourself: * Does this resonate with me? * Is this what I’m looking for? * Does this advisor know business or your industry? Those questions will help guide you in making mindful and intentional decisions for your business when you recieve unsolicited advice.