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Hi reader,

There’s always going to be noise when you’re building something new. It’s just how it goes. You’re working on your business, making decisions, figuring things out…then suddenly, everyone’s got an opinion. 

Friends, family, random people who don’t even run a business. They’ll tell you what you should do, what they would do, what they heard works.

It’s a lot. And if you’re not careful, it can throw you off course.

Today’s advice to grow your business

Don’t base business decisions on advice from people who don’t have a stake in your business.

I know that most people mean well. When a friend, family member, or acquaintance gives you business advice, they’re usually just trying to help. They see something they think is a good idea and want to share it with you.

The problem is they don’t actually know your business. They’re not looking at your numbers, dealing with your customers, or navigating the challenges you face every day. Their suggestions might sound great in theory, but in practice, they can lead you in the wrong direction.

Like when someone insists, “You need to be on TikTok!” …even though that’s not where your ideal customers are.

This doesn’t mean you should ignore outside input entirely – but you do need to filter it. Before taking any advice, ask yourself:

• Does this person have experience running a business like mine?

• Do they understand my specific goals and challenges?

• Would they be making this same suggestion if they had skin in the game?

If the answer is no, take their advice for what it is: an opinion, not a strategy.

Here’s how this will benefit you

You’ll avoid wasting time on ideas that don’t fit your business.

Every minute you spend chasing the wrong ideas is a minute you’re not spending on what actually works. You risk pouring energy into changes that don’t align with your goals, your audience, or your long-term vision. And it can be hard to come back from that.

Being selective about the advice you follow will keep your time and energy focused on strategies that actually move the needle. Instead of getting sidetracked by every “good idea” you hear, you’ll stay on track with what makes sense for your business.

You’ll become a stronger, more decisive business leader.

Running a business means making constant decisions. If you’re always second-guessing yourself because of outside opinions, it slows you down and makes everything feel harder than it needs to be.

You need to remember, no one knows your business better than you do. You know what’s working, what’s not, and what actually matters. The more you trust yourself instead of chasing every suggestion that comes your way, the more confident you’ll get.

Strong business owners don’t look for approval; they make the call and move forward. And the more you do that, the easier it gets.

Your first step

Find a few people whose business advice you trust, and tune out the rest.

Not all advice is worth your time, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore everyone. The trick is to be intentional about who you listen to. Look for people who understand your industry, have real experience running a business, or have proven success in areas you want to improve.

Once you have a small circle of people whose input you trust, use them as your sounding board. When someone outside that group gives you advice, you can take it in, but you won’t feel pressured to act on it. Over time, this makes it easier to filter out the noise and make decisions with confidence.

At the end of the day, it’s your business, no one else’s. Trust yourself to make the right calls.

Best,

Jono

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