Why Not Every Piece of Advice Works for You
CEO wisdom and influencer tips often miss your unique context. Here’s why thinking critically about advice is key to finding your own path.
We hear it all the time: successful CEOs claim that the secret to their achievements lies in their ability to say “no.” Influencers encourage us to buy a particular product, insisting they love it themselves. But just because something works for them doesn’t mean it will work for you. General advice, especially when it disregards your unique circumstances, can even be harmful. This article takes a critical look at why it’s so important to question advice, no matter if it comes from a successful CEO or a popular influencer.
The Temptation of Authority
It’s natural for us to trust authority figures, a concept known as the authority bias. Whether it’s CEOs sharing their secrets to success or influencers promoting products, we frequently take their advice at face value. The problem, however, is that we assume authority and success equate to universal competence. Just because a CEO is successful doesn’t mean their advice applies to everyone.
Take, for example, the often-heard advice from CEOs to “learn to say no.” While this strategy may be essential in corporate leadership, it could be detrimental to most employees. A young professional who declines every opportunity risks missing out on valuable experiences and career growth. What works for a CEO in their leadership role is a prime example of context-free advice — advice given without considering individual circumstances, and hence, potentially misguided.
The same applies to influencers. They use their popularity to promote products, often portraying an idealised version of their lives. Their followers trust these recommendations, in part because influencers create a sense of emotional closeness — they almost feel like friends (a phenomenon known as parasocial interaction). But once again, this advice regularly fails to consider the follower’s individual needs or lifestyle. Whether through status or emotional appeal, we are led to trust authority figures without questioning the context behind their recommendations.
Your Life, Your Rules
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is assuming there’s a universal formula for success that works for everyone. In reality, every situation, every life, and every career is unique. General, context-free advice ignores this fact and carries the risk of steering you towards a path that doesn’t align with your goals, values, or circumstances.
If you constantly hear how vital it is to say “no,” take a moment to reflect on whether that approach fits your current life or career stage. For a CEO, focusing on the most important tasks and rejecting distractions might be crucial, but if you’re an up-and-coming employee or entrepreneur, it might make more sense to say “yes” to new opportunities. The idea that one piece of advice, which works in a specific context, will apply to your life without adaptation is simply misleading.
The same holds true for the products recommended by influencers. They often showcase an idealised version of their lives — and of course, the products they promote complete that vision. But ask yourself: does this really meet your needs? Is what you see truly what you require? Here’s where self-reflection comes in. What are your personal goals and values? Which decisions will genuinely enhance your wellbeing, and which are driven by comparison to others?
In the end, you need to set your own rules. Only you know the unique aspects of your life. And only by making decisions based on that knowledge can you ensure they will benefit you, rather than being based on general advice that might not be relevant to your situation.
The Mechanisms of Manipulation
It would be naive to think we are always aware of the psychological techniques behind the influence of CEOs and influencers. Especially in social media, techniques are employed to subtly steer our decisions, often without us realising. These mechanisms are rooted in psychological principles deeply embedded in human behaviour — and that’s where their power lies.
Take, for example, the principle of reciprocity. Influencers offer us content, tips, or recommendations, and we feel compelled to give something back — whether it’s a like, a follow, or even purchasing a recommended product. This reciprocity principle, described by Robert Cialdini in his book Pre-suasion, is one of the most potent tools for subtly guiding people in a particular direction. Social proof also plays a significant role: if many people are buying a product or following a trend, we tend to believe it must be the right choice. This is one of the psychological principles Cialdini identifies as particularly powerful.
The principle of scarcity is also commonly used. We’re all familiar with statements like “only a few items left” or “limited edition.” This fear of missing out pushes us into quick decisions that we might later regret. Even CEOs and other successful figures use these techniques — whether consciously or unconsciously. They establish an authority that we trust and present their advice as infallible recipes for success.
All of these manipulation techniques share one thing: they often go unnoticed. They exploit our unconscious decision-making processes to influence us. That’s why it’s all the more important to be aware of these mechanisms and critically question what is presented to us. Always ask yourself: what are the underlying motives? Are these recommendations truly aligned with my interests?
Think for Yourself
Ultimately, everything boils down to one crucial point: you must think for yourself. In today’s world, we are flooded with advice and opinions, making critical thinking an essential skill. Whether it’s a CEO attributing their success to a specific strategy or an influencer recommending the latest “must-have” product, you should always ask whether the advice or recommendation truly fits your situation.
As Robert Cialdini illustrates in Pre-suasion, we are frequently influenced even before the message reaches us. That means the way a recommendation is presented can shape our decision-making long before we actually consider the content. That’s why it’s so important to compare every piece of advice you receive with your own situation. What are your goals, values, and circumstances? Does the advice fit into this context? And most importantly, does it make sense for you personally to follow it?
A key part of critical thinking is questioning the source of the advice. Why is this person giving this recommendation? What is their motivation? For influencers, it’s worth remembering that they often publish sponsored content, with the primary goal of selling products. CEOs and other successful leaders may be motivated by justifying their own working methods or strengthening their position.
Trusting yourself and taking control of your own decisions is essential. Instead of blindly following the advice of others, rely on your own judgement. Do your research, ask questions, and gather multiple perspectives before deciding what works for you. Only then can you ensure your decisions are truly aligned with your goals and values.
Conclusion
Context-free advice is everywhere, whether from CEOs sharing their success strategies or influencers promoting products. As Robert Cialdini points out, we are often influenced even before the actual message reaches us. What works for these people won’t necessarily work for you. Every life and career situation is unique, and only you know the circumstances that matter to you. It is therefore essential to critically evaluate any advice and apply it within the context of your own life.
By becoming aware of how psychological mechanisms like authority, scarcity, and reciprocity influence you, you can make more informed decisions. Ultimately, it’s up to you to not blindly follow others’ success formulas, but to find your own path. Critical thinking, self-research, and trust in your personal goals and values are key to seeing through manipulations and making decisions that truly suit you.
This is an English translation of a blog post that was originally published in the author’s blog in German.
