A mentor’s rule to ignore advice from those without real results sparks debate about filtering input, protecting mental clarity, and the risks of letting unqualified voices shape your choices
When a mentor says he never takes advice from anyone who hasn’t succeeded in the area they’re advising on, it’s bound to stir up strong reactions. That’s exactly what happened when consultant and mentor Jordi Segués posted a short video on TikTok and Instagram, declaring he refuses all advice from people who lack proven results in the field they’re talking about. According to El Confidencial, his blunt stance—delivered with full awareness that it would offend—forces a hard look at how we filter the endless stream of opinions coming at us every day.
In American life, advice is everywhere. Family, coworkers, influencers, and strangers online all weigh in on everything from money to relationships to career moves. But Segués’s rule—only listen to those with real, visible results—raises a sharp question: Should we really dismiss all input from people who haven’t achieved what we want? The issue isn’t just about pride or ego. It’s about mental load. Too many conflicting, poorly grounded opinions can cloud judgment, fuel self-doubt, and make even simple decisions feel overwhelming.
Segués’s approach is simple: If someone hasn’t achieved what you’re aiming for, their advice is likely to be theory at best, and at worst, a reflection of their own mistakes. He argues that experience should always outweigh theory, especially in a world drowning in opinions. The core idea: Give more weight to evidence than to words, especially when the cost of a bad decision is high.
He illustrates his point with two examples that hit close to home. First, the friend who agonizes over spending $15 on pizza but feels qualified to give investment tips. Second, the acquaintance who’s never had a relationship last more than two months but hands out relationship advice. The disconnect between what people say and what they actually do is often glaring. Segués’s message: Let people fix their own situation before they try to fix yours.
Most readers can recognize these types in their own lives or on their social feeds. Advice comes from all directions—often contradictory, sometimes guilt-inducing. The result is a kind of mental noise that can leave you second-guessing your choices about money, love, food, or work. As experts on manipulative communication tactics have noted, not all advice is neutral or well-intentioned, and some can even undermine your confidence or autonomy.
For Segués, filtering advice is a form of emotional intelligence. It’s not about dismissing every outside opinion, but about being selective with your attention. Not everyone is qualified to guide you, and setting a filter protects you from making choices based on shaky ground. It also shields your self-confidence from being eroded by people who may be projecting their own insecurities or failures.
He suggests a few practical questions to help you decide whose advice deserves your ear: Has this person achieved concrete results in the area they’re advising on? Does their life inspire you or match what you want? Are they speaking from lived experience or just repeating what they’ve read? What might they gain from giving you this advice—validation, a sale, reassurance? And finally, how do you feel after listening: clearer and more confident, or more anxious and uncertain?
His bottom line: Learn to distinguish whose voice matters and whose doesn’t. In a world where everyone has something to say, reclaiming control over which advice you let in is a crucial act of self-preservation.
According to El Confidencial, this approach is gaining traction among those who feel overwhelmed by the constant barrage of opinions, especially in the age of social media. A 2024 Pew Research Center survey found that 62% of Americans feel “frequently overloaded” by unsolicited advice online, and nearly half say it negatively affects their decision-making. The pressure to listen to everyone can erode confidence and make it harder to act on your own judgment.
Emotional intelligence is increasingly recognized as a key skill for navigating modern life. It involves not just understanding your own feelings, but also setting boundaries around whose input you allow to shape your choices. In therapy and coaching, learning to filter advice is often a turning point for clients struggling with indecision or self-doubt. By focusing on voices with real experience and results, you can reduce noise, protect your mental clarity, and make decisions that actually serve your goals.
