Giving Meaningful Advice
Before you can give someone meaningful advice, you usually have to get more information about their situation. As an example, during my 13 years as a professional wood turning demonstrator on The Woodworking Show Circuit I heard one question over and over again. “I just got a lathe and I need some tools. What do you recommend?” This was always a loaded question with at least a million answers.
Before I could give them meaningful advice, I needed more information. The way that worked best was this, “I’m happy to help, but in order to make the right recommendations for your situation, would you mind if I asked you some questions?” That put us both at ease and it didn’t seem like I was getting too nosey.
You can quickly learn the person’s approximate skill level, the depth of their interest in learning to turn, the level of other equipment they have including grinders and grinding jigs and if they have a turning mentor to help guide them, etc. If you know whether they bought the lathe at a yard sale or from a tool retailer or inherited it from their late Uncle that will give you an idea of their desires and motivation. Armed with some insight I was then able to give them more meaningful advice for their specific situation. One size doesn’t fit all.
When I need a recommendation from a sales person, I often use a short but accurate description of what I need to do, or what my project is; a couple of sentences including the mission will usually do it. I assume the salesperson won’t ask me the questions they should ask so I give them the information when I ask for help in the first place. This assumes I don’t already know exactly what I need, but need them to guide me in making the right selection.
When you are able to take the time to understand their situation, you will always make better recommendations and give more meaningful advice. This method is extremely helpful in a broad variety of situations we run across in everyday life. Usually just a few questions asked with permission will vastly increase the helpfulness of your advice. Remember that wherever you go, there you are.
Here is my inspiration for this message:
1Kgs 4:34 HCSB People came from everywhere, sent by every king on earth who had heard of his wisdom, to listen to Solomon’s wisdom.
Prov 18:13 KJV He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Job 42:4 NIV “You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’
Colossians 4:6 NIV Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Including Bottle Stopper Designs - 50 Plus classic designs. Free PDF.
Amazing Doughnut Chuck™ Instructions
ProGrind Instructions
We have bundled several of the most popular documents into one down-loadable zip file for your convenience. Still no charge.