"我一直讨厌好的建议，但回首看来，它让我变得更好了。"

Hating good advice while you're receiving it is a common experience. In the moment, it often feels like criticism or a challenge to your own wisdom and autonomy. No one likes being told they're wrong or that there's a better way. But looking back, you start to see those pieces of advice as pivotal moments that helped shape you. This is what the quote is getting at—the tension between our immediate resistance to advice and the long-term benefits of heeding it.

Think about when this might happen. Maybe it was your high school teacher insisting you plan your essays rather than diving straight in. At the time, it felt like a waste of time. You knew what you wanted to say, so why map it out? But years later, when you’re writing complex reports at work, you realize that planning saves you time and helps you organize your thoughts clearly. That teacher’s advice, once so annoying, turns out to be invaluable.

Let’s dig into a real-life example. Take Steve Jobs, for instance. In 1985, Jobs was ousted from Apple, the very company he helped to create. It was a bitter pill to swallow and, at the time, it seemed like a massive setback. However, Jobs later reflected that getting fired from Apple was one of the best things that could have happened to him. It forced him to start over, leading to the creation of NeXT and Pixar—companies that allowed him to innovate and grow in ways he hadn't while at Apple. When he eventually returned to Apple, the experiences and lessons he had gained made him a far more effective leader. The advice and decisions that led to his departure—though painful—ultimately contributed to his greater success.

So, how do you apply this wisdom in your own life? Start with a bit of humility. When someone gives you advice, especially if it’s someone you respect, take a moment to consider it seriously, even if your gut reaction is to dismiss it. Ask yourself: What can I learn from this? How might this make me better in the long run? You don’t have to follow every piece of advice to the letter, but be open to the possibility that others might see things you can’t see just yet.

Imagine you’re at a coffee shop with a friend, just like we are now. You’re venting about a new project at work that’s not going well. Your friend suggests a different approach—maybe something that seems counterintuitive or difficult. Your first reaction is to reject it; you’ve always done things your way. But later, as you’re lying in bed, you start to think about it. Maybe there’s something to what they said. Maybe applying this new approach could make the difference. You decide to give it a shot and, lo and behold, it works. Your project turns around, and you see that your friend’s advice—though hard to hear—was worth its weight in gold.

So next time someone offers advice and it stings a little, take a deep breath. Think about how it might make you greater in the long run. Embrace the discomfort. We all hate good advice when we first hear it, but often, it’s exactly what we need.