Navigating the Best and Worst Advice We Ever Got

A Journey to School and Self-Reliance

Listening to Shirley, Kim, and Tom walk down memory lane, what really struck me was how different “getting to school” looked for each of us and how those differences bred a certain resourcefulness that’s invaluable in business. Shirley recounted trekking a fourth of a mile to school in flat Iowa, sometimes walking or riding a bike, or cramming into an overflowing school bus with 70 kids. Tom shared how neighbors banded together to fill up cars with kids headed to Catholic school, sometimes riding three-deep on the seat, seat belts a distant dream.

Kim’s memories took us all over, from walking to school in Grand Mound or Dodgeville, riding into town with her mom for work, or at one point catching the city bus from Chippewa to Eau Claire to clock in at her job. And like many of us, her relationship with the school bus ended the day she got her driver’s license.

I couldn’t help but smile at the similarities: where we grew up, if you missed the bus, you walked, sometimes a dozen miles. There was something honest and unfiltered about those journeys. They didn’t just build resilience, they forced us to come up with solutions, improvise, and make things work. lessons that have carried straight over to my career in business.

The Art of Taking (and Ignoring) Advice

If you’re in business, sooner or later, everyone wants to share their advice. Sometimes, it’s gold. Sometimes, you look back and realize you dodged a bullet by ignoring it. Tom reminded us that a lot of bad calls come from within; it’s easy to make impulsive decisions and then try to lay the blame elsewhere. But that kind of self-reflection pays off in the long run.

Shirley reflected on the criticisms the family faced when they left Iowa, not just skepticism but outright declarations that it was a huge mistake. Looking back, it’s clear that sometimes the risks people warn you against are exactly the leaps you need to take. Kim shared her own moment: resisting Dairy Queen’s push toward hot food before a no-nonsense business consultant challenged her, asking, “Are you a restaurateur or a treat person?” That advice stung, but it stuck and it changed her approach for the better.

As for me, an early lesson I’ve never forgotten: “If you make extra space, a bigger shelf, a new break area, a larger trash can, it will fill up.” That principle holds, whether you’re dealing with clutter or calendar space in your business.

How I Filter Advice

The tough part? Deciding which advice to act on. I’ve learned to weigh not just the advice, but the person giving it. If they’ve walked the path, built a business, and solved the problems I’m facing, I’m much more inclined to listen closely. If they’re an outsider peering in or their advice solves a problem I don’t really have, I’ll thank them but move on.

Kim’s approach is a solid one: lay out a simple T-chart of pros and cons from the advice you’ve been given, weigh it against your own instincts and situation, and often combine the best elements into a new solution. For Tom and Shirley, sleeping on it or simply knowing when to follow your own gut made all the difference. And I agree, sometimes you just need to give yourself the space to decide.

Why Advice Is Easy to Give, Hard to Take

One theme we kept returning to is how much easier it is to hand out advice than to actually implement it for yourself. “Do as I say, not as I do” isn’t just a family joke, it’s the human condition. Real change requires stepping outside your comfort zone, and a nudge (or even a little confrontation) from someone you trust can be the spark you need.

In the end, every new challenge, whether it was figuring out how to get to school in the dead of winter or whether to bet on hot food at Dairy Queen, becomes a foundation for the next. Our stories, shared laughter, and even our mistakes carve out the kind of wisdom you can’t get from a book.

If these reflections ring true, or you have a story (or advice) to share, I’d love to hear from you. Reach out to [email protected] because ultimately, whether we’re in family or business, we’re figuring it all out together, one commute, one hard-learned lesson at a time.

Listen to episode 67 right here and make sure to check out our other blogs!