Free Advice

1. For advice you want to hear, go to a neighbour, but be prepared that you may regret following his advice. If you want advice you can follow, go to a professional, expect to pay to hear something you don't like, but be assured, such advice will save you money.

2. Never under-estimate the value of a second opinion. When in doubt, get one, but be careful, do not hunt for an advisor who tells you what you want to hear.

3. If you ask advice, and you have to decide on following the advice, always allow yourself to be led by two considerations: (a) What benefit do your advisor get if you follow his advice?
(b) Is it possible that your advisor were influenced by this benefit in his advise to you?

4. If you get something for free, does that not mean the value of that something is nothing. The same principle can apply to free advice. Therefor, always question the motive of your advisor.

5. The thing about problems is that there are almost always more than one solution to a problem but almost never a single perfect solution to that problem. You end up having to select the best of a series of bad solutions. Accept this. Accept also that you sometimes may have to cut your losses and run.