Wisdom. The word alone feels heavy, rooted in experience, draped in authority. Say it, and people listen. Now add “common wisdom.” That should mean something, right? Something tested. Something true.

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

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But does it?

You’ve heard the phrases passed down like gospel. Advice so old it’s treated as law. But what if much of it is nothing more than empty echoes? What if this so-called wisdom is outdated, hollow, and repeated not because it works but because it’s comfortable? Because questioning it is more challenging than accepting it?

For musicians, creatives, and anyone forging their own path, the wrong kind of wisdom can be more of a burden than a guide. It can lead you in circles, keep you chasing myths, and waste years of your life following someone else’s map to a destination that doesn’t exist.

True wisdom doesn’t come from blindly accepting what others say. It’s neccesary to question, experiment, and filter out the noise. And in any industry where everyone claims to have a secret formula, knowing what not to listen to is just as important as knowing what to absorb.

The Overload Of Conventional Wisdom

Advice is everywhere. It’s cheap, like flyers on Las Vegas sidewalks. Seems like everyone on social media and YouTube are the experts. You have algorithms and self-help gurus proclaiming they all know the way. They’ll tell you how to succeed, what works, what doesn’t. And then there is the “big fear of missing out” prognostications. Most of them are wrong.

Someone wins once and writes a book about it. Another fails a hundred times and does the same. People repeat what sounds good, and the story bends to the ending.

They say, “Hard work guarantees success” and “If you’re good enough, you’ll be discovered.” Often, that’s not how it works. I’m sure Vincent Van Gogh has a few words to say about this.

Old ideas get handed down like rusted tools in music, business, and life. Get a record deal. Move to L.A. Streaming killed the industry. But the facts don’t care. Artists break through in ways no one predicted. Some do it alone. Some do it quietly.

The noise regarding success is endless. Many speak with certainty, and few speak from experience. The wise ones know better. They test, they watch, they adapt, and they don’t waste time chasing ghosts.

Not all knowledge is worth knowing. Question everything. Find what works. Ignore the rest.

The Illusion Of Expertise

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Bad advice spreads because it sounds good. Not because it’s true. Say something with confidence, and people believe it. They don’t check. They don’t ask but just nod.

Say something enough times, and it becomes the truth. Do you think I’m wrong? Look at the politics of the day. Neither the right or the left are guiltless. How much honest truth is there in their agendas? It is wise to question the motives behind the words. 

The internet makes it worse. It seems all it takes is a good edit, a big following, and a well-lit shot, and you are an expert. Nobody asks for proof or questions failure or how much sweat went into the thing. Visceral and undiluted advice is never simple.

People don’t want to hear about how much is situational, the shifting sand of uncertainty, or the work. Just the success.

Bad advice doesn’t just waste time. It sends people down dead ends. Musicians follow myths. Entrepreneurs chase trends. Creatives cling to formulas that don’t work. They lose years. Some never recover.

The only way out is to think, ask questions, and look at the data, not the words. The real experts don’t need to scream or use tricks. Their work speaks for itself.

Tim Ferris’s The 4-Hour Workweek core message is that time and mobility matter more than money when it comes to designing a fulfilling life. Ferris argues that most people chase success without questioning why. Instead, he suggests building a lifestyle-first approach, where work is structured around freedom rather than endless hustle.

I read the book; he isn’t lying to us.

The Emotional Toll Of Bad Common Wisdom

I want to tell you that I work a four-hour week. Unlike Tim Ferris, I haven’t succeeded at the precursor level he achieved before venturing on his current journey. 

I’m like you: I put in the hours, make the connections, and build the brand. I have drunk the Kool-Aid, so to speak. 

I’m still waiting: tracking the numbers, tweaking the content, and posting regularly. 

It’s frustrating, but you already know this. Practicing a stoic attitude is tough, especially when it seems nothing can be done to change outcomes. I have been doing the things they say, as have you. How are you feeling about all this? 

It is all very depressing if you let it. 

Despite the ‘how-to’ and ‘methods’ offered by success evangelicals, I see those who are actually doing it working hard. 

Angela Duckworth’s book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance digs into a simple but powerful idea: talent isn’t enough. What separates those who succeed from those who don’t is not intelligence, luck, or even raw ability. It’s the command and capacity to persist through failure, setbacks, and frustration. There are a ton of those frustrations. But staying committed to long-term goals is the key.  

Duckworth breaks grit down into passion and perseverance. Passion keeps you focused on a meaningful goal over time. Perseverance keeps you going when things get tough. Without both, we’re not going to make it.

The industry, audience, and algorithms are out of our control. The work is essential. Grit argues that success isn’t about waiting for inspiration or the proper break. It’s about doing the job, even when it feels pointless, especially on those days.

Filter Out The Noise

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Every piece of advice comes from someone with an agenda. That doesn’t mean the advice is always bad, but it does mean you have to ask: Who benefits if I follow this?

Self-help and music industry gurus sell courses on how to “make it” taking your money and time to follow their courses. Social media influencers tell you that engagement is everything; their business depends on clicks, not quality. Even friends and mentors with the best intentions can offer advice shaped by their fears, biases, and outdated experiences.

( Nonsequitor here: That’s why I love Rick Beato. He is all about helping people build their craft. And he isn’t robbing people along the way. )

Don’t dismiss everything. It’s about being skeptical. We have to ask ourselves:

Has this person achieved what they’re telling me to do?

Do they stand to gain something if I take their advice?

Is their perspective relevant to your situation today?

Flawed wisdom often comes wrapped in confidence and authority. But confidence is not proof. Results are.

Common Wisdom Versus Data

The only way we will know if something works is to test it. People will tell you a thousand different ways to succeed. Some swear by daily content creation. Others insist you should take years perfecting your craft before releasing anything. Some say networking is everything. Others argue it’s all about skill. Who’s right?

As far as I can see, which is my nose is at the end of my face – Nobody and Everybody.

What works for you may be useless for me. The only way to know if something is true for you is to test it. Release music and see how people respond. Try a different approach to marketing. Experiment with new creative processes. Theories mean nothing until they collide with reality.

Experience is the best filter for bad advice. The more you do, the more you see what works – and what was never worth believing in the first place.

Ignore the common wisdom that “It Takes Money to Make Money. ” Don’t use this as a reason to buy into whatever new subscription will help further your cause. 

We have already committed enough time and resources to make this thing happen. 

If you are considering such a plan of action, consider the cost. 

I paid a one-time fee for a perpetual subscription to Substack, knowing I would use it later. I probably should have utilized the platform sooner, but that was the point – I would start using it when ready. 

Questioning The Rules Of Common Wisdom

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Do you thrive on structure, or do you need chaos? Neither is right or wrong. I need deadlines to keep content in the pipeline. What do you do? 

Some build success through relentless self-promotion, others by quietly mastering their craft until the right moment comes. Some artists rise through collaboration, others by staying fiercely independent.

There’s no universal blueprint. The problem with common wisdom is that it assumes everyone is the same. It tries to force square pegs into round holes. But I’ve been told true and lasting success comes from aligning with your strengths, values, and creative process. I believe it. 

I’m still learning to take in ideas, test them, and discard what doesn’t fit. If I have to borrow someone else’s strategy, I’ll do it. 

The people around you influence how you think, what you believe, and how you move forward. You know “the-average-of-the-five-people-you-surround- yourself-with” rule. If you’re surrounded by people who repeat the same tired advice, like those at your job, you’ll struggle to break free from the noise.

I’m learning to seek out people who question everything, including their ideas. 

I have a friend who researched speaker design ad-nauseum. After only six iterations, he took his cabinets to NAMM and sold his design. He experimented, thought for himself, and adapted. 

These are the people I need to be around, people who push themselves to think deeper.  

Another thing I did was put together a Mastermind group. A good network isn’t an echo chamber. It’s a place where ideas are tested, refined, and sometimes torn apart. The people you surround yourself with should help you sharpen your vision, not cloud it with outdated dogma. My friend is one of the key voices of that Mastermind. Look at what’s happening. 

Can We Help You?

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How can we support you on your creative journey?

Tell us your stories. What have you done that skirts conventional wisdom and logic, which has impacted your journey? We want to know. If you succeed we succeed.

Thanks for reading this post. 

Drop your stories of wisdom into the comments. Maybe it’s something that changed your perspective or altered your outcome. We want to know about your successes and challenges. Whatever it is, share it – because the real magic happens when you stop backing off and start creating.

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