What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession…
““What are bad recommendations you hear in your profession or area of expertise? Great, great question. In the world of writing, everyone wants to succeed immediately and without pain or effort. Really? Or they love to write books about how to write books, rather than actually writing . . . a book that might actually be about something. Bad advice is everywhere. Build a following. Establish a platform. Learn how to scam the system. In other words, do all the surface stuff and none of the real work it takes to actually produce something of value. The disease of our times is that we live on the surface. We’re like the Platte River, a mile wide and an inch deep. I always say, “If you want to become a billionaire, invent something that will allow people to indulge their own Resistance.” Somebody did invent it. It’s called the Internet. Social media. That wonderland where we can flit from one superficial, jerkoff distraction to another, always remaining on the surface, never going deeper than an inch. Real work and real satisfaction come from the opposite of what the web provides. They come from going deep into something—the book you’re writing, the album, the movie—and staying there for a long, long time.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Superficial advice promises quick success but neglects deep, sustained effort needed for true value.
In simple terms: Quick fixes ignore real work.
Focus on deep, lasting creation.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- authors
- entrepreneurs
- content creators
- students
- artists
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What deep work can you commit to today?
- How do you resist the lure of quick fame?
Superficial advice can lead to burnout and shallow outcomes.