The Best Advice Ever

What is the Best Advice You Ever Got? 

And Where Do You Go to Get It?  

Advice--Outside In

There's a lot of stuff out there!  Almost all of it is prescriptive.  It tells you what worked for them and offers it to you.  As you read, you can just see the prescription pad being written on.  Take 2 aspirin and call me in the morning...and then you can get another prescription.

We are all too familiar with this model.  Here are two great resources. Get the Katie Couric book, The Best Advice I Ever Got.  Through the voices of celebrities, you can hear how some of the most elementary changes in behavior paid off.  Or, just persevering, such as author Kathryn Stocket's book "The Help"--61 rejections before hitting pay dirt. (We take it she was ready to try #63 until #62 panned out!)  Or, another resource:  take the latest issue of the Oprah Magazine (October 2012)--"101 of the best advice."  And alot of it is good!  But understand this much--this is "advice outside in." 

Advice--Inside Out 

Then there is a whole different approach to advice--finding your own within yourself.  Rather than an RX of things to do that worked for others, what can you find in your heart, mind and soul that is authentic to you?  I found this direction helpful.  I do not need more things to memorize!  Shakespeare said it loud and clear in Hamlet:

                                     

                                     This above all: to thine own self be true,
                                     And it must follow, as the night the day,
                                    Thou canst not then be false to any man.
                                     Farewell, my blessing season this in thee!

Polonius lays it on the line for son Laeretes—“do what is true to your real self—make it your code for the road just as day follows night.  He is telling him to look inside himself and weigh his options—“Inside Out.”  

I found this same direction in the Harvard Business Review—“The Best Advice I Ever Got.”  Take time for reflection.  Sure, get all opinions, data, options—but reflect on them and go with the choice which is an extension of your real self.

Of course,  there always Jesus.  (There is even a book written called Jesus CEO. )  He tells people to look within for the Kingdom of God—that is where you will find it.  He points the way.  And then he says,  Seek first the Kingdom and all thing shall be added to you.  Matthew 6:33   (Watch out!  Jesus’ definition of “all things” just may not be what you really want!) 

There you have it.  The best advice I can give you.  Two choices.  Outside-In with a never-ending RX of things you can try out.  Or, Inside-Out--start with your own self and be true to it.  Jesus said that was pretty close to the Kingdom--at least the place to start!