Is That Advice Helpful—or Just an Upsell? Here’s How to Tell
Let’s get honest for a minute.
Not all advice is given just to help you. Some advice is actually part of a sales strategy. It’s crafted to sound empowering, but the real goal? To warm you up for the upsell.
And again—before anyone comes for me—I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with coaching, consulting, or creating paid resources. I’m a fan of people being paid for their expertise. I’ve invested in coaching. I’ve created things that I believe offer real value. That’s not the issue.
The issue is this: you need to be able to recognize when the advice you’re hearing is meant to serve you—and when it’s meant to sell you.
Let me break it down.
Have you ever noticed how some advice feels really dramatic? Like, “You’re playing small,” or “You’re stuck because you don’t invest in yourself.” Now—sometimes that’s true. But sometimes, those kinds of statements are less about helping you grow and more about nudging you to hit “Buy Now.”
This is where your filter comes back into play.
Here’s what I want you to ask yourself:
Does this advice align with where I am in my journey?
Is it specific and practical, or just general and attention-grabbing?
Do I trust the source, or am I just reacting to how confident they sound?
Is this actually what I need—or am I being sold on urgency and fear?
It’s easy to get swept up in a powerful message—especially when it’s wrapped in confidence, success stories, and testimonials. But just because something sounds good doesn’t mean it’s right for you right now.
Sometimes what you need is already inside of you—clarity, strategy, rest, or patience. And sometimes you do need support. But that’s for you to decide—not for an Instagram caption to convince you.
So the next time you find yourself hovering over a “Book Now” or “Sign Up” button, pause. Take a beat. Ask yourself if the advice that led you here came from a place of genuine connection—or carefully crafted conversion.
You don’t owe anyone your coins, your time, or your trust just because they’ve got a good pitch.
Move with intention. Invest wisely. And let your values—not your fears—lead your decisions.
This is Blog Post 4 in a 5-part series based on Tip #21 from Career Gymnastics.
Next week, we’ll close out the series by talking about what it really means to trust yourself—and how to strengthen that inner voice so it doesn’t get drowned out by all the noise.
Until then, protect your peace and your pockets.
#CareerGymnastics #AdviceWithIntent #KnowTheUpsell #FilterTheNoise #DiscernmentIsPower