Run a business for more than five minutes and you’ll notice something. Everyone’s got an opinion on how you should do it.
The man who’s never made payroll in his life. The mate with a steady 9-to-5 and a fat pension. Your cousin who “tried ads once.” All of them queuing up to tell you what you’re doing wrong.
Here’s the thing none of them grasp: knowing about something and actually doing it are two completely different sports. Not even close.
The No Bullshit Version
- Everyone with a steady job feels entitled to tell you how to run your business – despite never having the balls to run one themselves.
- Knowing about something and doing it are completely different. Watching The Departed on a loop doesn’t make you Scorsese.
- Not every opinion deserves a seat at the table. Some matter. Most are noise.
- Your job is to be wise enough to know the difference – and bin the rest.
Every motherfcuker has an opinion.
Think of it this way…
I can do ParkRun on Saturday.
Does that mean Mo Farah wants my opinion on how to improve his splits?
Probably not.
I can read a book about Amazon.
Does Bezos want my opinion on managing a $700 billion outfit?
Probably not.
I can watch The Departed on a loop.
Does that mean Martin Scorsese wants my opinion on character development?
Probably not.
Because all of this would be totally mental.
Yet…
For some reason…
When you run a business, the normal laws don’t apply.
The 9-to-5ers always feel entitled to give you their opinion.
“Why are you charging that…”
“You should post more on TikTok…”
“My cousin tried ads once and it didn’t work…”
“I think you need a rebrand…”
So many opinions about running a business.
…Despite never having the balls to run one themselves.
There’s a gigantic difference between knowing about something and doing the bloody thing.
Always remember: Knowledge vs doing is very different.
Not every opinion deserves a seat at the table.
Some matter.
Some are irrelevant.
Be wise enough to know the difference.
And for the record, I have no notes on The Departed. It’s perfect.
Until next time.
Why does everyone have an opinion on how to run my business?
Because running a business is the one thing where people who’ve never done it still feel entitled to coach you. The man who’s never made payroll, the cousin who “tried ads once,” the mate on a comfy 9-to-5 – they’ve all got the answer. The truth? Knowing about something and doing the bloody thing are completely different. Most of them have never risked a penny of their own money.
Should I listen to business advice from people who’ve never run a business?
Mostly, no. Not every opinion deserves a seat at the table. If someone’s never carried the risk, never made payroll, never lost sleep over three late invoices, their opinion on how you run your business is worth roughly nothing. Be wise enough to know whose voice actually matters – and bin the rest.
What’s the difference between knowing about business and actually running one?
The same as the difference between watching Mo Farah run and turning up to a ParkRun. You can read every book about Amazon and still have no clue what it takes to manage a $700 billion outfit. Knowledge is cheap. Doing the thing – risking your own money, carrying the weight, making the calls – is everything.
How do I know which opinions are worth listening to?
Ask one question: has this person actually done what they’re telling you to do? Not read about it. Not watched a video on it. Done it, with their own money on the line. If yes, listen hard. If no, smile, nod, and carry on. Some opinions matter. Most are irrelevant.
What To Do Next
You’re not evil for wanting to replace jobs with profit. You’re running a business, not a crèche. If you want the full playbook – the exact method hundreds of UK men have used to hit £1 million without a payroll dragging them under – start with my best-selling book. It’s here on Amazon
