How to Judge Good Advice from Bad Advice
The Advice Filter — 5 Questions to Check Before You Follow
Use this anytime you're unsure whether to take someone’s advice seriously.
Step 1: What Game Are They Playing?
Ask: What are they optimizing for in life or work?
- Stability? Growth? Legacy? Ego? Attention? Speed?
If they’re playing a different game, their advice may reflect values you don’t share.
Example: A VC says “take big risks fast.” But you want steady income while building. Different game = different rules.
Step 2: What Level Are They Playing At?
Ask: What stage of life or career are they in — and what stage are you in?
- Advice that works at ₹1 crore/year income may not work at ₹10L
- Advice for a founder may not work for an intern
- Advice for someone post-retirement may be too cautious for a 22-year-old
Good advice respects the distance between stages.
Example: A senior exec says “delegate everything.” You’re still building basic skills. Doesn’t apply yet.
Step 3: What Costs Aren’t Being Mentioned?
Ask: What did this advice cost them — and can I afford that cost?
Every smart-sounding move hides:
- Time
- Reputation risk
- Stress
- Opportunity cost
- Sacrifices in other areas
If the cost isn't visible, you're only hearing half the story.
Example: Someone says “go solo and freelance.” But they don’t mention the years of inconsistent income or loneliness. Still good advice — but only if you're ready for the full price.
Step 4: What Would Happen If I Took the Opposite Advice?
This is the Inversion Model applied to advice.
Ask: If I flipped this — what might I gain, or protect myself from?
If the opposite also makes sense, you're likely dealing with a personal preference, not a universal truth.
Example:
Advice: “Take every opportunity.”
Inversion: “Say no to most things and focus deeply.”
Both have logic. Now you can pick based on your energy, focus, and bandwidth.
Step 5: Does This Align with My Long Game?
Ask: If I follow this, will it still make sense to me five years from now — or will I feel off-track?
Some advice wins in the short term, but derails the long game.
Some advice feels boring now, but stacks massive returns later.
Great advice helps you move closer to your own north star, not someone else’s milestone.
Example:
Advice: “Move abroad immediately — don’t waste time here.”
Question: “Am I optimizing for learning, money, or family right now?”
If the move breaks a deeper priority, the advice is misaligned — not wrong.
Opening Hook
You ask three people for advice.
One says go for it.
One says be careful.
One says do the opposite.
All sound confident.
None agree.
Now what?
The Big Shift
Advice is everywhere.
Books, podcasts, mentors, relatives, strangers on LinkedIn.
And while most people are trying to help, not all advice is useful — or relevant — to you.
The smarter play isn’t to collect more opinions.
It’s to build a sharper filter.
You don’t need to follow advice.
You need to judge it.
Explain and Expand
Good Advice Has to Be Both Smart and Suitable
Most people ask, “Is this advice good?”
A better question is:
“Is this advice right — for me, right now, in this context?”
Bad advice isn’t always dumb.
Sometimes it’s:
- Outdated
- Misapplied
- Based on different goals or values
- Right for them — but wrong for you
The smartest thinkers don’t follow loud voices.
They ask:
“What’s the thinking behind the advice — and does that thinking apply to my reality?”
Advice Is Like a Suit
Even the best-made suit won’t fit everyone.
Same with advice.
The tailoring matters:
- Your goals
- Your stage
- Your resources
- Your constraints
- Your style of decision-making
Bad advice feels off — even when it's “technically correct.”
Good advice feels like it clicks into your situation with precision.
Build Advice Muscles, Not Dependency
Smart decision-makers:
- Listen deeply
- Ask questions
- Evaluate advice logically
- Stay aligned with their own goals
They don’t dismiss others.
They just don’t outsource their thinking.
Advice is input.
Judgment is output.
And your job is to protect the quality of that output.
Where People Go Wrong
❌ They chase confidence instead of logic
→ Just because someone sounds certain doesn't mean they’re right.
❌ They apply advice without adjusting for their reality
→ What works for a billionaire or celebrity coach may not fit your tools or timeline.
❌ They collect too much advice — and freeze
→ More voices = more noise. Learn to reduce, not multiply.
What Advice Have You Regretted Taking (or Ignoring)?
Think of a time when:
- You followed someone’s advice — and it didn’t work
- You ignored advice — and it backfired
- You stayed confused because opinions conflicted
Now ask:
- What assumptions were baked into that advice?
- Was I too quick to trust a confident voice?
- Did I overrule my instincts because someone sounded “more successful”?
This isn’t about blaming them.
It’s about reclaiming your judgment.
Closing Thought
Good advice doesn’t always sound flashy.
Bad advice doesn’t always sound wrong.
Your job is not to become an advice-absorber.
It’s to become an advice analyst.
Because in the real world, clarity beats consensus.
And your future belongs to the person who can say:
“Thanks for the advice. Let me think it through.”
Recap Box
🔑 Key Insight:
Advice is only useful when filtered through your stage, goals, constraints, and values. A confident voice isn’t always a correct one.
Tool:
The Advice Filter — 5 Checks
- What game are they playing?
- What level are they playing at?
- What’s the hidden cost?
- What if I did the opposite?
- Does this align with my long game?
📍When to Use:
Any time you’re overwhelmed by conflicting opinions — and want to sharpen your judgment and protect your direction.
Advice = Strategy + Incentives + Context
Behind every piece of advice is a strategy that worked in a particular system with certain incentives.
Let’s say someone says,
“You should quit your job and follow your passion.”
Sounds bold and inspiring.
But step back:
- Did they have a financial cushion you don’t?
- Were they in a growing market?
- Did they have connections, timing, or experience you don’t see?
Advice can’t be separated from the system that produced it.
You’re Not Arrogant for Filtering Advice — You’re Strategic
The goal isn’t to follow advice blindly.
And it’s not to ignore others completely.
The goal is to think:
“Does this fit my system, my incentives, my timeline, and my values?”
That’s not arrogance.
That’s decision intelligence.
When Conflicting Advice Meets Clear Thinking
Priya wanted to quit her job to start a passion project.
Two mentors gave her advice:
- Mentor A: “Quit now. You’ll figure it out. Bet on yourself.”
- Mentor B: “Validate the idea on weekends. Build cash flow. Then jump.”
Both were successful. Both were confident.
But Priya asked:
- What game are they playing?
- What risks can I Personaly afford?
- What phase of life am I in?
She realized she needed security and creativity.
So she took 3 months to test her idea while saving 6 months of runway.
Result: Calm transition, fewer regrets, faster clarity.
Not because the advice was magic — but because her filter was sharp.
Make Personal
for Ongoing Use
Next time someone gives you advice, ask:
- “What is this person optimizing for — and do I want that?”
- “What phase of life are they in — and am I in the same one?”
- “What’s the hidden cost here?”
- “Does this advice align with my long game — or distract from it?”
These five checks can turn confusion into confidence.