Meet People Where They Are
A friend and I were talking recently about life, work, and a business idea. The conversation was good. We explored possibilities. We talked through challenges. We shared perspectives.
Then something happened that I have started noticing more and more.
The Moment An Idea Appears, People Often Rush To Improve It.
- You should try this.
- You should use that platform.
- You should follow this method.
- You should take that approach.
And to be fair, most of the suggestions are good.
Sometimes they are even great.
The problem is that we are drowning in good advice.
- There will always be another platform.
- Another tool.
- Another framework.
- Another expert.
- Another strategy.
- Another way of doing things.
As long as we are alive, there will always be a better way.
The challenge is not a lack of information.
The challenge is having too much of it.
The Cost of Too Much Advice
When someone shares an idea, they are often trying to make sense of where they are.
- They are testing thoughts.
- Exploring possibilities.
- Taking the next step.
What they may not need in that moment is ten new directions to explore.
What they may need is help making progress on the road they are already walking.
But that requires something many of us have become surprisingly bad at.
Listening.
- Not listening to respond.
- Not listening to fix.
- Not listening to impress.
- Listening to understand.
- Listening to where someone actually is.
Sometimes Silence Is Not Resistance
I have noticed something else.
When people do not immediately respond to advice, it is often interpreted as resistance.
- They are not listening.
- They are being rigid.
- They do not want to adapt.
- They are shutting down new ideas.
But what if none of those things are true?
What if they are overwhelmed?
What if their mind is already carrying twenty tabs open at the same time?
What if they are trying to process the information they already have before taking on more?
Sometimes silence is not rejection.
Sometimes it is capacity.
I Do This Too
And this realization unexpectedly hit me.
My daughter and I often send each other Instagram reels. Mostly me, I send her a ton of them.
- Interesting videos.
- Useful ideas.
- Things I think she might enjoy.
The funny thing is that she rarely watches them and complains I send too much. And when I thought about it, I realized I am not much different. People send me videos, articles, podcasts, and resources all the time. Many of them are genuinely valuable. But there is only so much information one person can process.
Most times another helpful resource simply becomes another open tab.
- Another thing to get to later.
- Another piece of unfinished mental work.
Meet People Where They Are
This is becoming one of the most important lessons I am learning.
Meet people where they are.
- Before offering advice, understand what problem they are actually trying to solve.
- Before sharing ten resources, ask whether one would be enough.
- Before introducing a new path, understand the path they are already on.
The most helpful thing is not always showing someone a better road.
Sometimes it is helping them take the next step on the road they have already chosen.
What This Has To Do With Community
The more I think about it, the more I realize this is also a community practice. Strong communities are not built by people who constantly tell others what they should do.
They are built by people who pay attention.
- People who listen.
- People who understand context.
- People who recognize where others are before deciding how to help.
- Belonging starts with being seen.
- Participation becomes easier when people feel understood.
- Connection grows when people feel heard.
In many ways, one of the greatest contributions we can make to the communities we belong to is not more information.
It is better attention.
Final Thoughts
There will always be more advice.
- More tools.
- More strategies.
- More content.
- More ways to do things.
But perhaps one of the most valuable gifts we can offer each other today is something much simpler.
- To listen carefully.
- To understand context.
- And to meet people where they are.
I would love to hear from you.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed by too much advice or too much information, even when it was well-intentioned?
Feel free to share your thoughts in the comments or message me directly.
👉 And if this resonated with you, join my circle or subscribe to my newsletter to learn more about building a community, contributing to your communities or finding your own voice.
