Knowledge Is Power - Just Be Careful Where You Get It
In today’s world, it’s impossible to scroll through social media without stumbling upon an “expert” sharing life-changing advice. Maybe you’re simply looking to learn how to knit scarves for your family, but before you know it, you’re bombarded with videos promising you that you can scale your scarf business to $10K a month. Whatever your goal—whether it’s improving your real estate leads or launching a side hustle—someone will claim to have the secret sauce to success and, of course, they want to sell it to you.
Here’s the problem. Many of these experts use scare tactics to make you feel inadequate. They drag you through endless content, feeding you promises of riches and success, while failing to deliver any real value. You might Google something simple like, "How do I increase my real estate leads?" and end up on a video that looks like this:
“Only 5% of realtors make it to their second year. Don’t be a statistic. I’ve helped thousands of realtors transform their businesses overnight. But I won’t tell you exactly how I do it. What I will tell you is that there are three keys to success that I can’t fully share here. However, for just $90 (down from $9,995!), I’ll send you my course, my workbook, and a mystery bonus you won’t want to miss.”
It doesn’t matter what you’re trying to achieve—there’s someone out there making big promises. And often, they’re offering very little in terms of substance.
Take it from me. Once I started posting content—videos, blogs, and even launching a website—the unsolicited messages began flooding in. Some were helpful; others, not so much. Like the time I got a DM from someone telling me, “It’s sad to see what’s happening to you. You’re putting out content, and nobody’s watching. But don’t worry—I can help you get 10K followers in just a few months.” This person had 476 followers.
I’ve been solicited by people promising to take me to the “promised land” at least 50 times in just this year alone. It’s tempting to think that there’s some shortcut to success, but here’s the truth: most of these people are experts in one thing—selling dreams, not results.
But that doesn’t mean all advice is bad. There are people out there who genuinely offer value. I like to think I’m one of them. The key is recognizing that many of these "expert" tactics work because they prey on a limiting belief: the feeling that you're not good enough. They sell you a dream, but it’s not the reality of business growth.
Building something that lasts comes down to two things: action and reaction. You need to take consistent action, analyze what works and what doesn’t, and adjust your strategy. Knowledge is power—but only when it’s applied correctly. If you can find someone who’s been where you want to go, who’s achieved the success you’re after, learn from them. Just make sure they’ve actually done it, rather than just talking about it.
3 Keys to Trusting the Source
They offer real value, not just sales pitches. If their content is packed with helpful advice, subscribe. If it’s all fluff and fear-mongering, steer clear.
They don’t guarantee specific results. No one can promise that you’ll achieve certain outcomes. The best experts give you the tools to succeed, but it’s up to you to take action.
They’ve actually done what they’re teaching. It’s one thing to talk about success; it’s another to prove you’ve lived it.
Be cautious about where you get your knowledge. Choose wisely, and make sure that what you’re learning is truly worth your time.
AND most importantly, don’t let the noise discourage you from what it is you want to achieve. That noise is intended to scare you and make you feel like you aren’t good enough. You can do it! Take action and learn from the right people!
