The Trouble with Asking for Too Much Advice

Yesterday was "Phone Day." I'll be the first to admit I prefer speaking with people face-to-face, but time constraints, geography, and convenience sometimes make the telephone the only option.

I spoke with two friends who know a great deal about branding and the importance of clarifying your message to an audience. Both men were wildly different in temperament, age, and interests. But each had valuable bits of advice to share.

At the end of the exchanges, I felt a little overwhelmed. For weeks I'd been digging into my "brain trust" and asking the brightest people I knew how to best move my creative endeavors forward. But now, I'd finally reached one too many opinions on what to do. I was experiencing paralysis through analysis. 

Chances are, you already know what it is you have to do. Maybe you just haven't taken enough personal inventory of the next steps you need to take. Perhaps fear, or a lack of confidence is also playing a role in your business. Whatever the case, asking for counsel has its limits. 

I've learned it's important to constantly hone and refine your "why." Why is something important to you? Why does it matter?

Once you've zeroed in on your singular purpose, I'm confident you'll find the means within. People can still support and offer a bit of advice here and there, but now they'll mainly be there to remind you of what you already know.