Ever had someone give you "helpful" advice that left you feeling small, annoyed, or full of self-doubt? You’re not alone. On this Solo Sunday, Brian dives deep into one of the ugliest human behaviors that every entrepreneur faces: unsolicited advice. He unpacks why this seemingly innocent act can be more damaging than outright criticism, planting seeds of doubt that can derail your progress. Drawing from over a decade of experience, Brian explains the psychology behind why it feels so gross, why the most brilliant people you'll ever meet rarely give it, and how it’s often a sign of the other person’s insecurity, not your incompetence. This is the episode that will arm you with the mindset and the tools to protect your vision and keep moving forward.
✨ Why This Matters for You
Understanding the dynamic of unsolicited advice is a superpower for entrepreneurs:
- It protects your confidence from being eroded by people who don't have the full picture.
- It helps you distinguish between genuine support and someone else's ego trip.
- It gives you a framework to filter out the noise and stay focused on your unique path.
- You’ll walk away with a simple, powerful script to handle unwanted advice with grace and finality.
📝 Key Takeaways
- Context is Everything. Advice without full context isn't wisdom, it's just noise. The advice-giver never has the complete picture of your business, finances, or personal life.
- Competence Questions, Incompetence Declares. The smartest and most successful people ask questions because they understand complexity. Less experienced people tend to give declarative, overconfident advice (the Dunning-Kruger effect in action).
- Intention vs. Impact. Even if someone "means well," the impact of unsolicited advice often lands as judgment, implicitly saying, "I know better than you."
- Advice Can Be a Boundary Violation. When advice isn't asked for, it’s not helpfulness; it's a violation of your autonomy and decision-making process.
- Support > Advise. The most valuable people in your corner aren't the ones telling you what to do. They are the ones who support and encourage you on the journey you've chosen.
- "Nobody Bigger Than You..." Brian shares a powerful quote from The Magic of Thinking Big: "Nobody bigger than you will ever try to knock you down." People who use unsolicited advice to make you question yourself are revealing their own position, not yours.
🚀 Put It Into Action
This week, use this episode to build your defense against unwanted noise:
- Think back to the last time you received unsolicited advice. How did it actually make you feel? Acknowledge that feeling.
- Instead of internalizing the "advice," ask yourself: "What context is this person missing?" This reframes the situation and protects your mindset.
- Prepare for the next time it happens. Mentally rehearse Brian’s simple response: “I really appreciate that, but there’s a lot of context that you probably don’t know going on behind the scenes.”
🔗 Stay Connected
- Subscribe to the show so you never miss an episode
- Connect with Brian on Instagram @imetbrian
- Share this episode with a fellow entrepreneur who needs this powerful reminder to trust their own path
