Mentorship has had a profound impact on my life. It often arrives when I least expect it and from places I never anticipate. In the game of life, each of us is a pioneer of our own uncharted experience. Yet, we often find ourselves at crossroads that countless others have faced before. When we reach these inflection points, we turn to others for advice. We do this for two fundamental reasons: regret minimization and validation. We seek opinions to reduce the chance of making a worse decision than the alternatives. Often, we already know the intelligent choice but look for others’ approval to share the weight of the decision - and the blame if it turns out poorly.
The Paradox of Advice
Life advice is difficult to give because the human experience is heterogeneous. The exact same piece of guidance can be given to two different people and, through the butterfly effect, lead to wildly different outcomes.