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My friend Ryan had a problem.
He was about to launch his coaching business. Six months of planning. Website designed. Pricing figured out. Content calendar ready.
But he kept asking people what they thought.
His brother-in-law: "Coaching is oversaturated. Nobody's going to pay for that."
His former boss: "You should stick with corporate. Steady paycheck, good benefits."
Random guy at a networking event: "Have you considered doing something more scalable?"
Ryan was paralyzed. Too much conflicting advice.
Then he told me something interesting.
"I've asked 43 people what they think about my business idea. You know how many of them have ever started a business?"
I'm thinking maybe 10? 15?
"Zero," he says. "Not a single one."
Wait, what?
Ryan had spent months asking advice from people who'd never done what he was trying to do.
His brother-in-law works in accounting. His former boss climbed the corporate ladder for 20 years. Networking event guy sells insurance.
None of them had ever started a service business. Or any business.
But Ryan was treating their opinions like gospel.
Here's the thing about advice.
Most people give it based on their own fears, not your situation.
The brother-in-law who says "coaching is oversaturated" is really saying "I could never do something that risky."
The boss who says "stick with corporate" is really saying "I need the security of a paycheck."
Insurance guy saying "do something scalable" is really saying "I don't understand service businesses."
None of that has anything to do with Ryan.
But he was letting their fears become his doubts.
I told Ryan about this other guy I knew.
Started a lawn care business in college. Everyone told him it was a dead-end job. "You're too smart for manual labor." "There's no growth potential." "You'll never make real money."
He ignored them all.
Today? His company does $2.3 million annually. He has 15 employees. Works from his home office most days.
The people who called it a "dead-end job" are still complaining about their commutes.
Or take Lauren.
Wanted to start a virtual bookkeeping service in 2019. Everyone said she was crazy.
"Bookkeeping is being automated away." "Nobody wants to work with someone they've never met." "You need an office to look professional."
Lauren launched anyway. Found small business owners who were drowning in paperwork and didn't care where their bookkeeper lived.
Three years later? Six-figure business. Clients all over. Works from her kitchen table.
The pattern is always the same.
Person has idea. Asks everyone what they think. Gets scared by all the reasons it won't work. Either doesn't start or starts half-heartedly.
Meanwhile, someone else with the same idea ignores the advice and just does it.
Here's what Ryan should have done instead.
Skip asking "What do you think about my idea?"
Start asking "Do you have this problem I'm trying to solve?"
Big difference.
The first question gets you opinions from people who don't understand your business.
The second question gets you market research from potential customers.
Ryan finally figured this out.
Stopped asking random people for business advice. Started talking to potential clients about their actual problems.
Launched his coaching business six months later. Hit his first $10K month within 90 days.
All because he stopped listening to people who'd never done what he was trying to do.
My rule for advice:
Only take business advice from people who've built the business you want to build.
Your uncle who worked at the same company for 30 years? He can give you great advice about climbing corporate ladders. Terrible advice about starting businesses.
Your friend who's never sold anything? She can give you great advice about lots of things. Marketing strategy isn't one of them.
The hard truth?
Most people will try to talk you out of starting a business. Not because they're mean. Because they're scared.
They see the risks. They can't imagine the rewards.
And they assume you're as risk-averse as they are.
Don't let their fears become your limits.
— Stephen
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