I once got this piece of advice from a bestselling author after I told him I wanted to write a memoir. He told me, “Memoirs don’t sell unless you’re famous.”

He wasn’t wrong, and I’m glad I listened to his advice at the time. It was also a sign to me: I didn’t really want to write a memoir that much. If I did, I wouldn’t have let his advice stop me from doing it.

There are many ways to interpret, and respond, when you hear this statement:

• Trust: “Ok, you know better than me, I won’t.”
• Education: “I understand the reasons I shouldn’t do that, and I agree with you.”
• Defiance: “I hear you, I know the risks, and I’m willing to try it anyway. I will figure out how to make it work, even if it’s in a small way.”

There’s always a good time for each response; each has its rewards and risks. If you’re used to picking one way of doing it, it could be worth trying another.