When does advice become know-it-all-ism?

Am the only one who thinks like this?

There's a fine line between offering advice and sounding like you're telling people what to do.

In the first few weeks of running my own business I've ramped up my content output – it's all part of the inevitable founder-journey to get your name out into the world.

Critically – as I said in my second LinkedIn post after launching Chapter – because you never know who's paying attention.

(Advice I’m trying to live by as I know not every post will go viral, even though this one did…)

However, a big part of that dilemma – and any form of advice-sharing content – is trying not to sound like you have all the answers. Balancing that fine line between offering your audience genuinely useful insight which they might not have heard before, and being seen as an irritating know-it-all.

That’s harder than you think when you’re trying to stand out to demonstrate expertise that’s different to everyone else so people recognise your skills and abilities.

Most people don’t intentionally set out to reach Elevenerife, but they may occasionally stray near its borders.

I’ve become even more aware of this dilemma as I share more and more content that I think (and hope!) is useful for those I’d like to work with.

I know I’ll occasionally get it wrong and I have plenty of sounding boards I can turn to if I’m concerned what I’m saying sounds bossy or pretentious.

After all, no one wants to be hated or worse, ignored.