Don’t listen to what people say. Watch what they do.

Don’t ask your money manager for stock recommendations. Ask him which stocks he owns personally.

Don’t listen to the theories of your business school professor. Ask him about his own industry experience.

Don’t ask for advice. Ask for a demonstration of their methods.

Don’t listen to what people say. Watch what they do.

(I learned this lesson from Antifragile by Nassim Taleb.)