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 because the human experience is heterogeneous. The same guidance can yield opposite outcomes depending on who receives it. Take, for instance, the often repeated advice from tech billionaires to drop out of college and start a company. This narrative, built on a few mythologized successes, ignores the many for whom the same decision ends poorly. What works for one group can be catastrophic for another. The lesson is not to dismiss ambition but to recognize that advice must be contextualized to individual circumstances.
Advice is Yours To TakeMentorship Come From Unexpected Places