QT: General Advice Works Best if You Make It Your Own

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If there’s one thing that I truly believe is that there is no such thing as one-size-fits-all.

Every runner is unique. Their own strengths/weaknesses. And has their own likes/dislikes within our sport.

That’s why as a coach, I really make a point to avoid anything remotely one-size-fits-all with my athletes.

But when I’m flapping my yap on a podcast episode? Or trying to make a point in an email that I write?

It’s impossible to address every specific scenario so I tend to speak in generalities a bit more often.

That’s not a bad thing, I hope, but it’s important to keep in mind…

Generalities are Generally Just OK

In general, general advice works.

Just because it works generally doesn’t mean it works always.

And even if it does work, it doesn’t mean that it is the optimal bit of advice for you.

That’s why, in most cases, the best thing you can do is customize general advice so that it works best for you.

So Don’t Take General Advice Then?

The point I’m trying to make in this post/episode is to realize that general advice is a great starting point.

To get the most bang for your buck, you should probably try to take that general advice and really make it your own.

Tweak it. Massage it. Turn one knob up a tick and turn another knob down a little bit.

When I’m talking on the podcast? Or writing in an email?

I promise I’m trying to give you the best advice or information I possibly can.

But at the end of the day, it’s general advice that’s going out to at least a handful of folks simultaneously, each as unique as you are.

Make It Your Own

So how do you take the general advice and customize it to become what you need the most?

Ultimately it’s a bit of trial and error based on your unique situation.

Sometimes it means going all in, other times it means dipping your toes in the water.

And here’s the rub: me telling you how to make general advice your own in this format is simply general advice.

Major Benefit of a Coach?

If/when you think about hiring a running coach, what is the most important thing you’re paying for?

Spoiler alert, it’s not the training plan.

Yes, as a coach, I put workouts and training schedules together for all of my athletes.

But I think more important than the plan itself is the relationship that is formed, and as such, the specific advice that I’m able to give.

Instead of talking to a broad audience, I’m talking to one person and I’m able to give specific suggestions to one person that may not make any sense at all to give to another person that I coach.

If you need help taking general advice and making it your own, I’m happy to help.

Whether it’s by becoming your coach or just with a consult call, let me know.

However you do it, for the love of everything holy, stop taking general advice and assuming it’s good enough.

Make that advice your own, and you’ll be so much better off!

Tweaking general advice to really fit your wants/needs gives you the biggest bang for your buck. #runchat Click To Tweet

How Well Do You Tweak Advice to Your Current Situation?

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