What I’ve received the most as an entrepreneur is advice. From all kinds of people, on every aspect of the business. Some have had a tremendous impact, but I ignore most of them. What does it depend on? I thought about all those pieces of advice that stuck with me. Here’s a list of the common characteristics.The first hurdle to overcome is that I haven’t heard it before. This is where most of them fall. When I hear advice, I mentally add one to the counter. If I’ve been told something 10 times, there must be something to it.The second is whether it’s relevant. A startup is like an animal born with a strange mutation trying to survive in the jungle. It needs to find its place in the world. That’s why many best practices of established companies simply don’t apply, or there’s no time or resources to execute them in survival mode.Who tells me matters, but it’s important to filter. I prefer advice from people who have gone through a variety of experiences over those who have been successful in just one vertical. Simply because the former are more likely to understand the situation I’m in more quickly. How much they can empathize matters much more than their level of success. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is how they tell me. I remember more the advice that comes in the form of a saying, that makes me laugh, that I find clever or that rhymes. Or those where they tell me how they came to that conclusion. The story behind the moral. I may have heard or read the same idea before, but if it’s well told, it sticks with me.We remember stories more than truths. Having something to say is just the first step. Finding the best way to convey it is what makes the difference. At Alboro, we know our users are overloaded with information. We are constantly looking for better ways to give feedback to salespeople. Ideally, they’ll remember it and apply it at the right moment when they’re selling. So it makes a difference and eventually leads to another sale.
