Context before advice.

1 min 15 secs

This marketing consultant told me my emails were too simple and obvious.

Too short and not detailed enough.

He suggested adding more “sophisticated analysis” and using bolder, more attention-grabbing (clickbaity) headlines.

He also mentioned my language was too plain and that I should use more advanced words. "That’s how the pros do it.”

He claimed his advice would impress my readers and help me increase word of mouth.

I’m still very early in my journey, so I listened. On paper, some of it made sense.

But I knew what “good” looked like for me. Simple, authentic, and meaningful. It wasn’t about cutting-edge tactics, but about creating a genuine space.

So I sent him a document with articles I loved, deliberately leaving out the authors’ names to avoid their success influencing his opinion. If he didn’t like the writing, I’d know it wasn’t personal, just a simple clash of visions.

His response was telling.

"They're doing it wrong," he said. "Their articles didn’t hook me at all. The ideas they write about are too basic."

That’s when it hit me: advice without context is useless. Only take guidance from those who share your definition of "good," or you’ll be chasing someone else’s version of excellence.

The advice this marketing consultant gave me wasn’t inherently wrong, it just wasn’t right for my personal goals.

Most definitions of success are valid, you just need to know which is yours.

If your idea of a great website is simple, personal, and understated, don’t model someone specialized in building complex, tech-driven sales funnels packed with marketing tactics and pop-ups.

Remember, context before advice.

Once you understand this, you can break the rule. Seek out different perspectives to test your views. If their world resonates with you, maybe it’s time to rethink your own.

Sincerely,

Ash Lamb

(300 of 500 words)

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Feel free to reply—I respond to everyone.