[paulerdos]

"I can't really afford .. but I ... value it" . I sometimes hear this and think, do you really? Customer pays for expensive car, hits the right social standing events, but consulting services get the "I can't really afford" story. Truth is that we don't value consulting on subjective issues because there is little conclusive data indicating that the consulting resulted in increased value.

[taroth]

Your point is that people will only appreciate advice that confers direct results (fancy car->invited to fancy parties). I evaluate advice against where I am and where I am aiming to be, which means that advice that isn't practical now (ie how to sell a company) can still be useful for guiding future decisions.

Perhaps a useful metaphor would be that future-oriented advice is a amplifying lens on the headlights of my business. I can make better decisions, because I can see further down the road.