I’ve been offering my very best advice to a young, brilliant colleague; it’s well-intentioned and from the heart, and I believe I have her best interests at heart. But I worry that in the noise of the advice she is getting from all sides, she’ll lose track of her own heart and dreams.
I’m on the record as a strong supporter of finding a guru to guide your growth, education, and even career. But there must be limits. Here’s what I want to say to my young colleague.
You have a lot of people around you offering you advice. Some of it you ask for, some of it they helpfully volunteer.
They are probably smart, well-intentioned, and reasonable. But there comes a time when you have to stop listening to advice and start listening to yourself.
No one–not one of your advisors–knows all of you. Even your guru might not know your heart after ten years of guidance.
What’s the right choice? What’s the wrong choice? They’re all right. They’re all wrong.
After you’ve heard all the advice, quiet the world and listen to your heart. It will help guide you to the right advice to follow.