Day 395 - A better way to ask for advice, via negativa - https://golifelog.com/posts/a-better-way-to-ask-for-advice-via-negativa-1643500092504
My usual go-to question when asking someone for advice for a specific topic is:
“What are the top 3 things that brought 80% of the results?”
But I got to admit, it’s a question looking for quick hacks.
I was asking the wrong question all along.
I didn't always know what worked and what led to my success. But I definitely knew what didn’t work.
So a better question to ask is to ask about what not to do.
• “What is something people spend too much time on that I should skip entirely?”
• What’s the top 3 mistakes you made that you don’t wish on someone else in similar shoes?
• What did you focus on back then that you now wished otherwise?
• What would your current self tell your past self on what not to do?
The via negativa approach to seeking advice.
“What are the top 3 things that brought 80% of the results?”
But I got to admit, it’s a question looking for quick hacks.
I was asking the wrong question all along.
I didn't always know what worked and what led to my success. But I definitely knew what didn’t work.
So a better question to ask is to ask about what not to do.
• “What is something people spend too much time on that I should skip entirely?”
• What’s the top 3 mistakes you made that you don’t wish on someone else in similar shoes?
• What did you focus on back then that you now wished otherwise?
• What would your current self tell your past self on what not to do?
The via negativa approach to seeking advice.