Bad Business Advice I Blissfully Ignored

You’ve probably heard this one before: “If you want to be successful, you have to [insert generic advice here].” But… following bad business advice can sometimes do more harm than good.

Whether it’s “niche down or get drowned out” or “scale fast or fail,” there’s no shortage of rules when it comes to building a business. And I get it… some of it works. But a lot of it? Let’s just say I smiled, nodded, and did the opposite.

And here’s the kicker: I’m better for it. The advice I ignored led to more creative freedom, better-fit clients, a saner schedule, and a business that actually feels like me. Let’s talk about the bad business advice I blissfully ignored, and why I’d do it all again.

“You have to pick one niche and stick to it.”

Niching down is the holy grail of marketing advice. And sure, I get the logic. Specializing can help you stand out. But the idea that you need to go ultra-specific, or risk disappearing? That never sat right with me.

My career has always been multi-faceted. Marketing for edtech? Check. SaaS? Check. Small business consulting? Yep, that too. That mix doesn’t confuse people; it shows range. And frankly, it keeps me engaged. Sticking to one industry for the sake of clarity would’ve drained the joy out of my work.

So, should you niche down? The answer: maybe. But only if it makes you feel more aligned, not boxed in.

This advice gives me hives. I have never (and will never) subscribe to the idea that consistency means constant content. The pressure to show up every day just for the algorithm is a fast track to burnout (and honestly, half-hearted posts).

Instead, I post when I have something real to say. Sometimes that’s twice a week. Sometimes it’s once a month. But every post sounds like me, reflects how I think, and often links back to something deeper, like this blog. That approach has grown my brand in a way that actually feels sustainable. And fun. Which is kind of the point, right?

“Don’t get too personal. It’s not professional.”

This one’s my favorite piece of bad business advice to ignore. I’ve built the most authentic connections in my career by sharing stories not just strategies. When I wrote about what knitting taught me about business or my spring reset process, I had people DMing me with their creative rituals. When I talk about the messy side of entrepreneurship, it resonates more than any case study ever could.

People want to know who they’re working with. And showing up as a whole person—failures, quirks, cozy cardigans and all—has only made my work more impactful.

“Always say yes to opportunity.”

Nope. Not anymore.

Early on, I said yes to everything. Every “quick” favor. The low-budget project with a high-maintenance client. Opportunities that came with a “great exposure” pitch and a vague promise of future work.

Now? I say no more than I say yes. And it’s made me a better marketer, a better writer, and frankly, a happier human. Goal audits have helped me clarify what’s worth my time. I don’t just take on work, I curate it. And in return, my clients get the best of my focus, fast responses, and realistic productivity (the kind I actually stick to).

So saying no isn’t a missed opportunity. It’s a filter for alignment.

“Success looks like scaling.”

I used to think that if I wasn’t constantly growing (more clients, more revenue, more hours) I was doing something wrong. But then I realized: scaling just to scale isn’t the only way to define success.

For me, success looks like creative control. Working with people I genuinely enjoy. Having space to experiment, to knit, to write things like this without needing permission. I’m not building an empire. I’m building a life.

And if that means ignoring the blueprint, I’m good with that.

The Truth About “Bad” Advice

Most of the so-called bad business advice I ignored wasn’t bad because it was wrong. It was bad because it wasn’t right for me. That’s the part we don’t talk about enough.

You can be strategic and rebellious. Focused and flexible. You can grow without following someone else’s path to the letter. And you can definitely build something brilliant by tuning out the noise and listening to your gut instead.