Good advice isn't luck; it's a repeatable process. Pick a topic, interview four proven leaders, ask laser-focused questions, and prep a one-pager to turn every call into actionable insight.
Getting good advice is a skill you can teach yourself. Charles Cook explains that you must start with a specific problem you lack conviction on, then line up four people who have solved that problem at successful companies. He stresses diversity of perspective - even advisors from the same firm will disagree, and that's valuable.
The outreach is a short, hyper-specific LinkedIn message that frames the ask in the context of the advisor's experience and your own product-led sales machine. The example message includes a clear hook, a brief intro, and a precise question about hiring a BDR, which reduces the mental load on the recipient and raises response rates.
Before any call you draft a one-pager that outlines where your team is, where it's heading, and the exact questions you need answered. This forces you to clarify your own thinking and signals seriousness to the advisor. The template includes a summary of the current state, team snapshot, and a bullet-free list of help needed.
Cook also warns that advice is rarely perfect; you'll get about a 50 % hit rate. He advises triangulating conflicting opinions, focusing on root problems, and judging whether an advisor's success stems from skill or luck. The piece ends with a call to action, listing open hiring roles at PostHog, underscoring that the same process can be used to recruit talent as well as to solicit counsel.
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