Is It Okay to Make Decisions Based on Someone Else’s Experience?
Making decisions can be tough, let's face it. From choosing what to have for breakfast or whether to treat yourself to your favorite Starbucks order, to deciding on your next business investment, we're faced with a multitude of choices every day. It's no wonder that we often turn to others for guidance and inspiration when we're not sure what to do. But have you ever followed someone else's advice and ended up regretting it?
Following the advice of someone else who has taken a similar path can also be the best thing you ever do. But If you're not careful, you may end up blindly following someone else's advice without taking your own needs and desires into consideration. This can lead you down a path that isn’t aligned with your own values or goals, or can even stop us from taking inspired action altogether resulting in regret or resentment later on.
In this in-flight article, we explore the risks and benefits of making decisions based on someone else's experience, and provide practical strategies for how you can strike a balance between learning from others while still prioritizing your own needs and desires. So, if you're looking to make better decisions in your personal or professional life, this is one you won’t want to skip over.
The pros of making decisions based on someone else's experience
You can learn from someone else's mistakes
By studying the experience of others who have been in similar situations, you can avoid making the same mistakes they made and save yourself time and resources.
You can gain insights and perspectives you wouldn't have otherwise
By listening to others' experiences and perspectives, you may gain insights that you wouldn't have thought of yourself. This can broaden your perspective and help you make more informed decisions.
You can leverage the expertise and knowledge of others
If someone you trust and respect has expertise or knowledge in a particular area, you may be able to leverage that knowledge to your advantage and make better decisions.
You can save time and effort
Making decisions based on someone else's experience can save you time and effort in researching and analyzing a situation on your own. You can leverage the experience and knowledge of others to make a more informed decision quickly.
The cons of making decisions based on someone else's experience
Different circumstances
Just because someone else's decision worked for them doesn't mean it will work for you. They may have been in a different situation or had different resources available to them.
Limited perspective
While someone else's experience can be valuable, it is still limited to their own perspective and may not take into account other factors that are important to you.
Overreliance on others
Relying too heavily on other people's experiences can hinder your ability to trust your own judgment and make independent decisions.
Missing out on personal growth
Making decisions based solely on someone else's experience may mean that you miss out on the personal growth that comes from making mistakes and learning from them.
How to strike a balance between learning from others while still prioritizing your own needs and desires
Striking a balance between learning from others and prioritizing your own needs and desires requires a deliberate approach. Here are some strategies you can use to achieve that balance:
1. Identify your own values and goals
Before seeking advice from others, it's important to have a clear understanding of your own values and goals. This will help you filter out advice that doesn't align with your own priorities.
2. Seek advice from a variety of sources
While it can be helpful to learn from others who have experience in your area of interest, it's also important to seek advice from a variety of sources. This can include mentors, peers, industry experts, and even those outside of your field.
3. Evaluate the credibility of the source
When seeking advice, it's important to evaluate the credibility of the source. Consider their track record, their experience in the field, and their motivations for giving you advice.
4. Consider the context
Every situation is unique, and what worked for someone else may not work for you. When evaluating advice, consider the context of your own situation and whether the advice is relevant to your specific needs.
5. Trust your instincts
While seeking advice can be helpful, it's important to trust your instincts and make decisions that feel right for you. Ultimately, you know your own needs, desires and end-goal better than anyone else.
