Public figures, professionals and friends

If I were to make a list, there would be too many people to mention. But they would fall in three broad categories: public figures, professionals and close friends.

Public figures and internet celebrities

There are a lot of people I admire, and to be honest most of them I don’t know personally. I guess this is just a result of our digital age. They are public figures that I follow online, internet celebrities if you will. Or people that I see on news outlets and on the TV. But to get advice from them, this is only possible if I do that in general terms. What I mean is, I try to extract something beneficial from their overall message. Things that could be applied to my situation. I don’t get to sit with them in a café and talk about personal issues. I really don’t know them.

Leave it to the professionals

Another approach I take is seeking professional advice. This is especially true if I have a complex problem. If I have a health issue, I need to see a doctor. When I have some small thing bugging my mind I try to solve it through therapy. If I need to buy a house, I will look for a Realtor. Similarly, I discuss investments with a financial advisor.

I don’t see the point of plaguing my friends with very specific and technical questions. Their guesses would be as good as mine. Also, I don’t want to risk our friendship by asking their advice and later not taking it. Or worse, taking it, and it proving to be disastrous later. Better to keep things separate.

Close friends

What I just said doesn’t always apply to my closest friends though, specially with very personal matters. There is just a handful of those people. I know I won’t hurt their feelings if I just be myself. I can unburden my soul in front of them without reservations. In most of the cases, I really don’t need their advice. I just need to know that they are there to listen. And when they offer some guidance, I am grateful and prone to consider them. They usually prove to be the best advice.