Does it Work?

The one question to ask of every advice you read on the internet

Lee Kuan Yew was the architect and leader of Singapore. He made Singapore what it is today- a modern, developed city-state.

It was not always so. Singapore was a country beset with problems like poverty and corruption. Lee helped transform it from a poor country to among the richest within 50 years.

The fact that Singapore has been able to become a developed country within such a short span is a testament to his exemplary leadership.

He asked one question to every idea, theory or advice that he got.

That question was,

“Does it work?”

Here is what he said in his book- Lee Kuan Yew: The Grand Master’s Insights on China, the United States, and the World.

“I do not work on a theory. Instead, I ask: what will make this work? If, after a series of solutions, I find that a certain approach worked, then I try to find out what was the principle behind the solution. So Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, I am not guided by them…I am interested in what works…”

Floating in a Sea of Advice

The internet (and even Medium) is full of advice. Finding advice that works is not always easy though. A lot of times you get contradictory advice from many sources.

For example, some say a vegetarian diet is the best for weight-loss. Others ask you to go Ketogenic. Some suggest Paleo.

On the subject of writing, you have people who advise you to write every day and those who suggest focussing on quality by being selective in what you publish.

One good way to cut through the myriad theories is to ask the question “Does this work?”

Asking this question can help you cut to the chase like a knife through butter.

Don’t be intimated by who is giving advice. It may be someone others swear by as the foremost expert on that subject.

They may tell you you did not apply it correctly or that it works for everybody else. What matters is that you tried that method and it did not work for you.

Experts Can Be Wrong

What you count as today’s experts may be seen as ignorant folks of the future.

Aristotle was the foremost expert of his times. He is indeed one of the greatest philosophers of all times.

Yet history proved him wrong on many things.

As Bertrand Russel, the famous rationalist pointed out one of Aristotle’s most infamous errors in this quote below.

“Aristotle maintained that women have fewer teeth than men; although he was twice married, it never occurred to him to verify this statement by examining his wives’ mouths.” — Bertrand Russel

Also, knowledge in one area may not translate well in another adjacent area. Otherwise all economists would have been successful traders. And all successful critics would be successful writers.

Sometimes people are good at talking. That does not make them good at doing. Taleb talks about it in his book “Antifragile”

“Clearly, It is unrigorous to equate skills at doing with skills at talking”- Nassim Nicholas Taleb

Find what works for you

When you ask this question, “ Does it work” you look for applicability. Not every advice can be applied in your life. Only you know your context best.

Choose the advice which you think would work for you. Apply it in life as an experiment. If it works great. If it doesn’t discard it like an old pair of shoes that have worn out. Try a new one for fit.

Our job is to try out different theories like we try out clothes. If they fit, well and fine. If not, why keep wearing them? You will look ridiculous.

When I wanted to lose weight I tried following the Ketogenic diet. I tried it for two months. I lost some weight but also ended up having high albuminuria and cholesterol. I was advised to stop Keto by my doctor.

It was not suitable for my body. It works for a lot of people. I changed my approach to low carbohydrate diet and that worked better. I not only lost weight but had no complications while following it.

I am not saying here that Keto is bad as a method to reduce weight. I am only saying it did not work for me. If it works for you then follow it by all means.

Don’t Be Overawed

Today countless bloggers are asking you to wake up at 5 am. Some even ask you to wake up even earlier. It works for some but may not work for you.

You may be in a job or life situation where you are sleeping late. Better sleep full 8 hours and take rest. If you are not well-rested you will end up being burnt out. It may not be sustainable for you to wake up at 5 am every day.

Don’t look for a compelling narrative. Look at the results and your context and ask this question “Does it work for me?” or “Does it work for me now?”

It works the other way around too. You see somebody making so much money through their writing. You look at the writing and think it is simplistic and wonder how such a simplistic style of writing is working.

You may be wrong. The person may be successful because of many hidden reasons. She may be good at marketing. She may be catering to a specific audience that appreciates the authenticity of her style. While you are only looking at the quality of the writing.

In conclusion, there are many experts and advice in this world because there is no one sure way of success. By focussing only on what works for you, you can find what is the best fit for you.

That requires some experimentation. It also means being open to, as well as sceptical of, all ideas and advice. Treat all bits of advice on their merits and you will find one that works for you.