Learned Counsel

I was having a correspondence via e-mail with Anna yesterday around my post on the 60 second quiz. She raised a very valid point (as I would expect) about coaching. Sometimes at competitions, particularly if you don't have a coach with you, previously unknown counsellors can strangely materialise. People you've never met may start offering you all sorts of hints and tips. It is true that most people offer advice in an attempt to help but it should always be considered respectfully and carefully for relevance and accepted or rejected as you feel fit. You should treat all advice like this, even to an extent your own coaches' words (although of course you should treat them with more confidence). We all see the world in different ways and you need to develop your own ability to think through a situation. Take advice, consider it carefully then assimilate it as you desire. As Obi-Wan Kenobi once said "Who is more foolish; the fool or the fool who follows him?"