Would you have listened to yourself or anyone who'd told you that 5 years ago? I've got some people in town that I do some mentoring with, and I've given them most of this list over the last few years, and generally it's ignored. However, I'll get a call, email or coffee with some 'hey - gotta tell you something!'. I listen as they excitedly share some revelation which is pretty much exactly what I'd told them 2 years earlier. I initially took it personally, but I think now it's more a case of "you gotta learn for yourself". As much as people think they can 'crush it' by reading garyv's book, it's not until you're out there living things day to day that most of this stuff is really driven home.
Another thing I've learned is that it's not what you say, but who you are when you say it. Both who you are to yourself, and who/what others perceive you to be when you're saying it.
I would say that a message coming from my future sell would probably be treated differently than a message from somebody else in the present. Unfortunately, that "treated differently" would probably involve my past self seeking psychiatric attention.
You could say something to your past self that would verify your identity in an attempt to make your words carry more weight, but I don't think there is much you can do to convince a past self that you were not a figment of their imagination.
It's a tough balance--at some level, if you're starting a business, you've got to be pretty stubborn--otherwise you'd just take everyone else's advice and get a job like "everyone else in the world". But you've also got to be flexible and open-minded enough to know when you're wrong, and be able to admit it. And if you want to keep people on your side, give credit where credit is due!
I laughed when you mentioned people not taking advice only to later take the advice but believe they came up with it themselves. It's really annoying when it happens to me, but I've certainly done it myself. I'm not sure why it happens that way exactly, but I try to be aware of it at least and always try to be very gracious for anyone taking the time to offer advice in the first place, whether I take it or not. And later on, when I end up taking the advice anyway, I really do try my best to not believe I came up with it myself.
It's hard to give others advice that will help them. You know what you wish you knew 5 years ago, but much of that may be inapplicable to others in a similar position now.
Take the list posted here. It could be terrible advice to a different start-up founder with similar goals if that person already knows how to code, and is working on a product that is more complicated than a 2 week prototype can cover.
agreed, the 'learn to code' is bad advice for someone who knows how to code. almost self-explanatory, really. but other 'advice' - guidelines, really - that I've doled out has centered around networking and marketing. And I get ignored, in favor of people burying themselves in code and minutia (logo sizings, colors, etc).
But if when FamousPersonX suggests that "you should be networking more, getting feedback, and iterating on smaller offerings of functionality while expanding your network of interested customers", somehow that's revelation from on high, and how insightful that is, and wow... no wonder they're a huge success, etc.
Doesn't even actually mean the people in question follow the advice (generally they don't) but the reaction is annoying.
It's a good point to make. I feel strongly that the people who advance in their lives actually learn something from their mistakes. We are all stubborn to some degree but as long as you can realize when you are wrong and move forward that's all that really matters.
Thing is: I don't think your younger self would have listened to this advice because your mindset is a function of time. I know I wouldn't have. Unless, of course, the advice giver can show you actual proof that the things he's saying are true, e.g. like the Almanac from the future that the older Biff is clutching. Or to show Archimedes how to derive the volume of a sphere using calculus (should you show him how to generalize the formula for a n-dim sphere, maybe not).
So that brings us to the following thought: There are two kinds of advice a time traveler can give: (i) "Objective" stuff that will actually happen, and that perhaps you can provide proof for, i.e. the Instagram advice; and (ii) "subjective" stuff that may or may not turn out that way, i.e. "don't marry that girl".
I've often wondered if it's possible to actually get to a place where you are receptive to learning from the experiences of others without having to experience the mistakes yourself. Perhaps it's this thing that people call wisdom :)
If my dad were on Hacker News, he'd be all over this. I clearly don't value his advice enough even though it's been pretty dead-on. One thought to add though. I think one problem people have with advice (at least a problem I have with advice) is sometimes, when delivered the wrong way, it oversimplifies the complexity of the situation you're in. You're in a situation and the decision looks hard. And someone comes in and gives you advice which is great but sometimes in the process makes your problem seem simple. If you struggle with a problem that to others seems simple, how do you feel? Answer = dumb. So when I'm asked for advice, I try to keep this in mind - to not minimize the significance or complexity of the person's struggle.
I see most things in life as a three-step process: first there is (apparent) simplicity, then there is the pain of discovering the real complexity of things, then there is a third step of attaining enlightened simplicity. But this only comes after having been through the complexity. So the goal to strive for is simplicity on the other side of complexity.
I was in a similar position with my ex -- although I think I used my start up as an escape putting more time into it than I would have otherwise. Then again, I could just have an addictive personality and it might not have made a blind bit of difference.
Either way, dwelling negatively on the past does not help as you cannot change it. I don't believe I would have come to the same conclusions if I had not experienced it first hand. Remember: work smarter, harder not longer!
it's really challenging to give any advice that i would follow without having walked the path to have came to that conclusion. thusly, it'd be things where time = output. such as taking up pilates, playing more golf, waking up earlier.
my favourite high level advice is: the best time to plant a tree was 5 years ago, the second best time is today.
I started out on my own startup path almost 2 years ago now, and it's dawned on me by now that things don't change. If you're building a company (or anything worth building really), you will always have problems, they will often catch you by surprise, and imminent success or failure always seems like it's right around the corner.
Best case scenario, you get to deal with higher quality problems, make more money, and still love what you do. Worst case... well, I guess you go get a job (and/or go bankrupt?)
Another thing I've learned is that it's not what you say, but who you are when you say it. Both who you are to yourself, and who/what others perceive you to be when you're saying it.