What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise?
Recorded John Lewis said elsewhere, not written here
I would come home and ask my mother, my father, my grandparents, my great-grandparents, 'Why?'. And they would say, 'That's the way it is. Don't get in the way, don't get in trouble!'

Emory University Quadrangle, Atlanta, Speakola (speech transcript archive), 12 May 2014 source ↗

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Warren Buffett Chairman and chief executive of Berkshire Hathaway, 1970–2025
Most investors, of course, have not made the study of business prospects a priority in their lives. If wise, they will conclude that they do not know enough about specific businesses to predict their future earning power. I have good news for these non-professionals: The typical investor doesn't need this skill. ... The goal of the non-professional should not be to pick winners – neither he nor his "helpers" can do that – but should rather be to own a cross-section of businesses that in aggregate are bound to do well. A low-cost S&P 500 index fund will achieve this goal.
Recorded Berkshire Hathaway annual shareholder letter, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., 28 February 2014 source ↗
Reid Hoffman Co-founder of LinkedIn; partner at Greylock Partners
Our culture lionizes entrepreneurs who navigate daring switchbacks in their career. Steve Jobs was admired not just for Apple, but also his detour to found Pixar. Elon Musk is revered for helming Tesla AND SpaceX. But don't be distracted by other people's winding paths. I believe you should celebrate your single-mindedness, and stick to your own overarching idea — for as long as it holds your own fascination. In my experience, that could last your entire career.
Recorded Hoffman's own Medium publication, Reid Hoffman on Medium source ↗
Nick Cave Songwriter, musician and novelist
Many creative people, especially the young, may feel their chaotic or disordered relationship with the world is indispensable to their creative freedom. The more anarchic, the better! However, after considerable fieldwork in this area, I have yet to find it so. I have come to understand that the muscle of the imagination is strengthened through resistance, discipline and order.
Recorded Jai, The Red Hand Files, Issue #302, 28 October 2024 source ↗
Michael Phelps United States swimmer, 2000–2016
I think it's something that nobody's really talked about in the past because we're supposed to be this big, macho, strong person that has no weaknesses. You know, we're supposed to be perfect.
Recorded CBS News, 25 January 2018 source ↗

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