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Social media is filled with advice from self-proclaimed business gurus, VC-backed hype cycles, and founders who haven't quite made it yet. Every week, a new playbook drops—usually a repackaged version of something that worked five years ago, if at all.

But the best founders? They don’t follow the latest trend. They actively filter out bad advice. They de-influence themselves.

The Problem with Startup Advice on Social Media

There’s no shortage of advice on Twitter, LinkedIn, and TikTok about launching and scaling a startup. Some of it is valuable, but a lot of it is noise. The biggest offenders:

• VC Twitter Echo Chambers – Where raising money is framed as the goal, not the starting point.

• One-Size-Fits-All Playbooks – What worked for a DTC brand won’t work for a B2B SaaS startup. What worked for a company in 2014 won’t necessarily work in 2024.

• The Overnight Success Myth – Most “instant successes” were years in the making. The only thing that happened overnight was people noticing.

Instead of getting caught in the cycle, the best founders know how to ignore advice that doesn’t apply to them.

How Successful Founders De-Influence Themselves

1. They Don’t Chase What’s Popular—They Build What’s Necessary
   Many startup founders get caught in trends—AI, Web3, creator tools—without a real thesis behind their product. But the best founders build what people need, not what gets the most engagement on social media. The ability to filter out hype is what separates durable companies from fleeting ones.

2. They Know Fundraising Isn’t the Same as Success
   There’s a huge difference between raising money and building a sustainable business. The best founders focus on revenue, not just venture backing. They recognize that profitability isn’t an outdated concept—it’s the foundation of a business that lasts.

3. They Don’t Fall for Growth Hacks That Don’t Scale
   Yes, launching a product on Product Hunt or going viral on TikTok can give you a spike in users. But unless those users stick around, it doesn’t matter. Smart founders invest in retention over vanity metrics.

4. They Surround Themselves with Operators, Not Just Influencers
   The best founders don’t just follow advice from the loudest voices in the room. They seek insights from people who have actually built businesses—experienced operators, successful bootstrapped founders, and people who have survived multiple cycles.

How to De-Influence Yourself as a Founder

• Curate your sources – Unfollow accounts that only offer generic or hype-driven advice.

• Ask, ‘Who does this actually work for?’ – Every strategy has a context. If someone grew a business using TikTok ads, ask yourself if that applies to your industry.

• Get advice from people one stage ahead of you – The best advice comes from those who have recently navigated the challenges you’re facing.

• Test before you trust – Any “must-do” strategy should be validated with your own data.

Final Thought: Build, Don’t Perform

The best founders are builders, not performers. They don’t waste time optimizing for engagement or flexing their fundraising rounds. They focus on making something people actually want.

If you want to succeed, stop looking for the perfect playbook. Start tuning out the noise, and build something that lasts.

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If you want more resources on building wealth as a solopreneur/entrepreneur, check these out:

• The Solo 401k handbook

• The Roth IRA handbook

• The Self-Directed IRA handbook

• The Guide to Paying Less in Taxes

• What is a Solo 401k?

• How to Open a Solo 401k