THE BEST ADVICE YOU CAN TAKE

WEEK OF 8/17/2026

 

The best advice you can take is your own.

As a coach, I’m in a position where people come to me for advice.  Whether this is smart on their part is up for debate (insert smiley face here) but the fact remains that I’m often giving direction and perspective on all things combat sports and, often, things beyond.

Many of you are in the same position as well.  As coworkers, partners, parents, educators, role models, mentors, or even coaches yourself — we all find ourselves dispensing some really great prescriptive advice on how to navigate challenges and solve problems.

And yet, when we are faced with our own problems, suddenly we find it hard to determine a course of action and take steps in the right direction.

But here’s the thing: we all have great advice for others.  Why not give ourselves advice?  If someone else came up to us with the same problems we’re navigating, how would we guide them?  Would the solutions be complex, or would they be simple?  Would the path to resolution be tricky or straightforward?

I often find that when I turn the light back on myself, my problems become much simpler and the solutions are nearer in reach.

The best advice we can take is our own.

The human proclivity to convolute our own issues is pretty universal.  It’s an insidious defense mechanism that allows us to avoid actually taking action in favor of figuring it all out first.  It’s easy to see in others, but difficult to see in ourselves.

So our challenge this week (and I will always include myself in this, as we are all in this crazy ride together) is to take a moment to give ourselves some really, really good advice.  And, more importantly, to take it.

It’s some of the best advice you can get.