Does the Person You’re Following Know Where They’re Going?

And most importantly, do they know how to get there?

“If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

Matthew 15:14

It’s extremely important we don’t just believe and follow whomever or whatever, whether online or offline, just because it already suits our preconceived notions.

On Facebook I’m in writing groups, business groups, podcasting groups, audiobook narrator groups, and other topical groups that I have some interest in. The same goes for LinkedIn, where I engage in similar activity in groups there, albeit not nearly as much as I do on Facebook.

Anyway, in almost EACH one of these groups, I’ve noticed there are experts and there are newbies, as well as people at various stages of their businesses in-between. It can sometimes be hard to tell where someone is truly at because if you know a little bit more than someone who knows nothing, you can easily have them THINK you’re an expert.

Even if you’re not.

That’s one of the disadvantages of the internet: instead of actually being any good, people just need to know how to make it LOOK to others like they are.

There are also some groups that have risen to the forefront for me like cream rising to the top, while I’ve quickly learned other groups are full of bad advice-givers who’ve never actually been successful in their respective businesses or careers, like audiobook narration groups of self-publishing groups for people who don’t like their feelings hurt, more so than they like being challenged to excellence.

You can tell the newbies from the pros because bosses don’t rely on “likes for likes” of their business pages in order to build their followings.

You can tell the newby podcasters from the pros because they are the ones begging people to subscribe to their shows so they can appear in “new and noteworthy”, oblivious to the fact N&N is handpicked by people at Apple, and not an actual ranking of any kind.

Or their strategy for growth is hoping and praying their podcast or YouTube guest will share he episode with their followers and go viral.

You can tell who the newer authors or, or the ones who aren’t selling books because they beg for review swaps with other authors. Ask me why this is actually harmful to you and your books.

You can tell whether you’re going to be a lurker in a group and learn or whether you’re going to contribute and offer help so as to counter-balance the horrible advice others are giving.

If you want solid, professional advice and to advance in your career of choice, you must gather advice from people who KNOW what they’re talking about.

Has this person demonstrated success in their field?
Have they solved their problem(s) using the solutions they advocate?

If not hurting each other’s feelings is more important than giving and getting solid PROFESSIONAL advice, you are in a group for sissies and not for pros who are going to help you step up your game.

It’s that simple.

But all it takes is one fly to ruin the ointment.

On The Other Side of That Coin

While in some cases you can’t lead someone where you haven’t gone yourself, you can disciple and mentor people who go on to outshine you. You can train people to be(come) more successful than you are. 

I can give you a recipe to bake a cake with specific quantities of each ingredient needed for 8 people to be able eat a piece of it and be full (Replication). 

You could then take that same recipe, and multiply the quantities of each ingredient exponentially, and make enough cake for 80 people to eat (Multiplication). 

I talk to authors all the time who believe if they can’t make a cake for 80 people then they aren’t ready to share their recipe with the world. And for that reason, many people are never going to be able to try your delicious cake because of your limiting belief. 

If you truly aren’t ready to write your book, then you shouldn’t.  

But if the analogy I used describes the reason you’re not sharing your message with the world yet, then you’re just making excuses.  

Whether or not you’ve impacted or helped 80 people or only 8 doesn’t matter as much as whether or not you’re actually living out your message.

If you are, then stop making excuses and get your book out there.

Got a Book You Need Help Publishing and Launching?

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