We Ignore Advice
The article discusses the reasons why people often ignore advice, despite its correctness. It highlights the challenges of applying advice in real-life situations, where emotions and existing beliefs can create resistance. The author reflects on personal experiences of disregarding valuable guidance and the complexities of delivering advice effectively.
- ▪Many people receive correct advice but fail to follow it due to personal beliefs and emotions.
- ▪Advice often competes with existing beliefs, leading individuals to adapt it to their own circumstances.
- ▪The delivery of advice can impact its reception, as defensive reactions may prevent reflection.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
PostSpaciousEditorialWhy We Ignore AdvicePublished May 13, 2026 · 7 min readThe other day, I caught myself giving advice again. I do that a lot. Probably too much. While I was talking, something hit me. I have been told the right thing many times in my career, and in life, and I still did not follow it. They were right. I just did not listen. My first boss in a three-person startup gave me career advice, but also real practical life advice. I ignored most of it. I thought I was different. Things would work out differently for me. I was wrong. The problem with advice is not really correctness. A lot of advice is correct. The problem is that correctness without experience often feels like a nice sentence.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Yusuf Aytas.
