Idols

“Never ask advice of someone with whom you wouldn't want to trade places.”

- Darren Hardy

I would go as far as saying, "Don't take advice from someone you wouldn't trade places with."

What if we applied this quote seriously to everyone that we have ever received advice from?

This would be more than advisors, mentors, siblings and supervisors. We would have to scrutinize doctors, waiters, mechanics, financial advisors, accountants, neighbors, parents, coworkers, politicians, workout partners, everyone.

This quote is fascinating in this age of influencers. Anyone with a great photographer could be someone we want to trade places with. But don't beso sure that chick isn't living her best life in Morrocco because she's been selling pictures of her feet to weirdos for the last 5 years. Even if it's all above the table, how does one even get into the feet picture market?

I digress. That's another blog idea.

I meant for this to be a reflection of who we do take advice from. This was inspired by looking at a few healthcare profiles on linkedin. I can't tell if I'm sensitive or if I'm triggered, but every picture was a white male. This was the presentation. So, the idea of this qupte came up. What if we only take advice from those that look most like us AND we would trade places with them. What if, me as a white female only took advice from white females living a life I want to live. I'll have to admit, the white female life doesn't look too bad, except for the obvious (google: 'man or bear debate'). However, this application creates a limitied worldview, unfortunately.

The world is progressing, I remember my excitement when I learned of a Female country leader (Angela Merkel). Prior to that I searched for women in sports or in the magazines, anyone that looked like me (at least a little thick). I had no one to align my life with until Shakria. Her hair and curves eliminated my feelings of being lost and alone. Here was a woman who I felt like I looked like that was on top. Her personality was admirable too, imagine if she had a rebellious period, I would have had one too (not that I didn't, I just would have followed her footsteps.)

Still not much for sports, or realms that the average person could find success, international popstar is a very high aspiration.

The point I'm getting at is that we should be aware of who we aspire to be. If I wanted to pursue a career in health, that long list of white men would be discouraging. My thoughts would be along the lines of, ew I don't want to be these men, or work with only these men. Clearly that's not progressive, but breaking this barrier should be from both sides.

So, a moment of introspection, maybe I shouldn't take advice from only those who look like me, or live a life that I would trade. It would impossible to know the intricacies that make up the lives of these people we admire and desire to trade places with.

It's a wild ride, but these are my thoughts.