The Power of Obvious Advice and the Future of Knowledge Sharing

The Power of Obvious Advice and the Future of Knowledge Sharing

In a world filled with information overload, it's easy to overlook the power of obvious advice. We often dismiss it as common sense or something we already know. But what if I told you that good advice, even if it seems obvious, can still be incredibly valuable? In his article, "Good Advice is 'Obvious,'" Scott H Young argues that the obviousness of advice should not undermine its usefulness. In fact, our intuitions can often be fuzzy, leading us to overlook the basics. So let's take a closer look at why obvious advice matters and how it can shape our understanding of the world.

When we think of obvious advice, we tend to associate it with things we already know. But as Young points out, the value of good advice lies not in its novelty, but in its ability to challenge our intuitions. We may think we know something, but when we hear it articulated in a different way, it can spark new insights and perspectives. Our intuitions can be deceiving, and what seems obvious to us may not be so obvious to others. That's why it's important to listen to advice, even if it seems like common knowledge.

To illustrate this point, Young shares an anecdote about his conversation with James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits. Clear revealed that one of the keys to his book's success was his relentless pursuit of promotion. He appeared on over 200 podcasts in the first six months of the book's launch, with around 80 podcasts released in the first week alone. This strategy may seem obvious to some, but the truth is, many authors overlook or underestimate the power of promotion. Clear's success serves as a reminder that even the most obvious advice can have a significant impact if we take it seriously.

But why do we often overlook obvious advice? Young suggests that our intuitions can lead us astray. We may have a vague understanding of how things work, but it's the "boring, yet plausible" accounts that we tend to gravitate towards. We want to believe that there's a secret formula or a hidden shortcut that will lead us to success. However, the reality is that knowledge is often about understanding the basic principles and building upon them. It's about recognizing the nodes and relationships that form the foundation of any given field.

This brings us to the future of knowledge building and sharing. In an article titled "The Future of Building and Sharing Knowledge - Enter Scrintal," the team behind Scrintal discusses the need for a collective mind or shared memory of humanity. They believe that achieving this shared knowledge requires more than just a mess of information. It requires an open process that showcases how knowledge is created. Currently, knowledge is often created behind closed doors and only shared once it's finished. We see the end result, but we rarely see the steps that led to it.

Scrintal aims to change this by providing an easy-to-use system for organizing, connecting, and sharing knowledge in a visual way. They recognize that building knowledge is a time-consuming and exhaustive process, and the current ways of sharing knowledge are outdated. With Scrintal, users can collaborate, visualize their ideas, and create a more accessible and connected knowledge ecosystem.

So, what can we take away from these insights on obvious advice and the future of knowledge sharing? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Embrace the obvious: Don't dismiss advice just because it seems obvious. Take the time to listen and consider how it challenges your intuitions. You never know what new insights it might spark.

2. Promote your work: Whether you're an author, entrepreneur, or creative professional, don't underestimate the power of promotion. Be proactive in sharing your work and getting it in front of the right audience. It may seem obvious, but it's a crucial step in achieving success.

3. Embrace open collaboration: Knowledge is not created in isolation. To truly advance our understanding, we need to embrace open collaboration and share the process behind our ideas. By doing so, we can create a more connected and accessible knowledge ecosystem.

In conclusion, the power of obvious advice should not be underestimated. It can challenge our intuitions, spark new insights, and lead us to success. Additionally, the future of knowledge sharing lies in embracing open collaboration and creating a more connected and accessible knowledge ecosystem. So let's embrace the obvious, promote our work, and collaborate openly to shape the future of knowledge.