Why Taking Advice from Your Colleagues Might Be Killing Your Business

“Don’t compare your business to someone who’s running a completely different playbook.” - Shawn Dill

Let’s talk about something that’s quietly wrecking a lot of service businesses: peer-sourced advice.

You know what I’m talking about—those hallway chats at conferences, the group threads on Facebook, the late-night phone calls with other providers where someone says:

“What’s working for you right now?”

And because we’re all trying to figure things out, we latch onto whatever someone says is “working.”

Maybe they’re running Facebook ads.

Maybe they’re handing out flyers at Little League games.

Maybe they’re offering some referral promotion.

And so you try it. You invest time, energy, and money into doing what they said is “working.”

But it flops.

And then you feel frustrated, confused, and like something must be wrong with you or your business.

Here’s the truth: it’s not you. It’s the advice.

The Dangerous Myth of Peer-Level Advice

There’s a false sense of security in learning from people “at your level” or “just a little ahead.” It feels safe. Relatable. Less intimidating.

But that’s the problem.

• They’re operating under similar blind spots.

• They’ve made just as many assumptions as you have.

• And in most cases, they’re not even clear on why something is working—they just know it is.

That’s not a strategy. That’s luck.

Worse, they may not even be measuring real success. Are they talking about likes and leads, or actual revenue and profitability? Big difference.

Why Their Advice Doesn’t Apply to You

Even if they’re good people with good intentions, the truth is: their advice might be completely irrelevant to your business.

Here’s why:

1. You’re Serving Different Clients

What works for someone targeting corporate HR directors won’t work for someone serving time-strapped, self-employed individuals.

Your ideal client might not be on Instagram.

They may not open direct mail.

They may not respond to the same language, visuals, or urgency triggers.

Marketing without a deep understanding of who you serve is a waste of time.

2. You Have a Different Business Model

If your colleague is taking insurance or working with vendors on monthly retainers and you’re charging cash for premium, transformation-based work, the sales process, pricing, and messaging are not even in the same universe.

Don’t compare your business to someone who’s running a completely different playbook.

3. You’re Playing at a Different Price Point

The tactics that work at low-ticket price points do not translate to high-ticket sales.

Discount offers, flash sales, and referral gimmicks might work at $49 a session. Try that at $5,000 and see what happens.

High-value clients require a different type of trust, positioning, and experience. You don’t get there by copying tactics from someone playing a smaller game.

4. You’re in a Different Stage of Business

Someone with a huge client base, strong cash flow, and three team members can afford to experiment with things that would crush someone who’s just trying to get five consistent clients.

What works at scale doesn’t work at startup—and vice versa. Context matters.

What You Need Instead: Clarity, Not Consensus

What most service providers are really looking for is clarity—but instead of seeking it from someone who has actual perspective, they go looking for consensus.

“If three people say Facebook ads are working, then maybe I should do that.”

“If the group says I should lower my prices, maybe they’re right.”

This herd mentality is dangerous.

If you want clarity, you need someone who isn’t guessing. You need someone who:

• Understands your goals

• Knows your ideal client

• Can diagnose your actual business problems

• Has walked this path already—and won

In short: you need a coach or mentor, not a crowd.

Final Thoughts

Most service providers will stay stuck because they’re busy collecting advice instead of creating clarity.

They’re too afraid to invest in expert guidance, so they stay in the cycle of “try, fail, try again.”

But if you’re serious about building a business that works—for you, your clients, and your life—then you have to stop taking your cues from the crowd.

You don’t need more opinions. You need direction.

Get clear. Get guided. And stop chasing what’s working for them.

Start building what’s going to work for you.