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A few months ago, I decided to start golfing.
So I went to Golftec, a fancy, high-tech facility by my house. I saw a free “swing consultation” on Instagram and figured, why not.
I booked a session with an ex-pro named Steve.
After the usual small talk — where you live, kids, how old — he asked me one question:
“What are your golf goals?”
I told him the truth.
“I just want to get one percent better every session. I’m not trying to go pro or be elite. I just want to golf with my friends and not embarrass myself… or get so mad I throw my club into a pond.”
He nodded.
“Good,” he said. “Because you’re not good enough yet to get mad.”
He paused to see how I’d react.
I laughed. And that’s when I decided to hire him.
A lot of coaches coddle you. They tell you what you want to hear. They keep you on the hook by making you feel like you’re improving, even when you’re not — or by giving you just enough help to feel productive every couple of weeks.
That’s not what I want.
I want blunt. And that’s Steve’s thing.
He’s not mean. He just doesn’t sugarcoat. You want to get better? He takes that seriously. Not just because he respects his craft — but because he respects your time and your money.
At the end of the session, he said something else that caught me off guard.
“When you get out there,” he said, “a lot of guys are going to give you advice. Don’t listen to them.”
Not because he only wanted me listening to him.
“But because they’re sharing what works for them — or what they think works. Most of them have no idea what they’re talking about. They just like to talk.”
He kept going.
“Take their advice if you want. That’s fine. But it might undo the work you’re putting in. Or worse — it might work for a little while, then suddenly stop working, and you won’t know why your straight shots are now slicing.”
That part stuck with me.
Because the most dangerous advice doesn’t fail immediately.
It works just enough to convince you it’s right… until it quietly breaks something underneath.
And I realized the same thing applies to marketing — and honestly, careers in general.
Every day you scroll LinkedIn and see:
STOP doing this.
You should be doing that.
This is the only way!
I’ve developed a bit of a built-in filter for that kind of advice.
Any time I hear “stop” or “you should,” my first question is: Based on what context? My goals? My gaps? My stage? My strengths? My appetite for risk?
If someone doesn’t know what I’m trying to build — or why I care — why would I blindly follow their advice?
Scrolling can be great for inspiration.
It can also be wildly misleading if you’re not intentional.
Because advice without diagnosis is malpractice.
And most people don’t realize when they’ve been misdirected. It doesn’t feel wrong in the moment. It feels busy. maybe productive. Sometimes validated.
Then months later, they’re stuck. Or confused. Or second-guessing everything.
If you’re confused, it might not be because you’re behind — it might be because you’re listening to too many voices.
I think about this a lot as I grow my business.
I don’t just think about making good decisions. That’s obvious.
I think about avoiding misdirection.
Most people don’t fail because they make bad decisions.
They fail because they follow advice that quietly points them in the wrong direction.
This is how I approach my marketing advising work too.
Even when clients come to me wanting to run the same systems I’ve used before, the first job isn’t copying what worked for others.
It’s understanding what they really need right now.
Some marketing engines need to be built from the ground up. Others don’t need a rebuild — they need an oil change and a full tank of gas.
If you’re feeling stuck or conflicted, it might be time for fewer opinions — not more.
Not more advice. Just the right perspective for your situation.
If this resonates, I do a small amount of marketing advising with founders and senior marketers who feel like things are working hard — but not winning. And not sure what to do next.
If you want a second set of eyes on your direction, we can talk. Book time with me here.
Clarity doesn’t come from doing more.
It comes from hearing fewer voices — then choosing the right one.
Pen by Devin Reed
Founder, The Reeder
Follow me on LinkedIn | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram
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