There is no shortage of information, but there is often a shortage of credibility.

Everyone has advice. Books to read. Stocks to buy. Diets to try. But the real question isn’t what is being recommended. It’s who is doing the recommending?

Social media makes it easy for anyone to share information and claim to be a “thought leader.” Real thought leadership is conferred by results and other people, not simply claimed by the thinker.

Expertise and experience matter.

There’s a difference between a hunch and a track record. Between an opinion and insight. Credible advisors bring evidence—experience, outcomes, and what Nassim Taleb calls skin in the game.

Good advice comes from good advisors.

Information is cheap. Wisdom is not.

In a world eager to tell you what to do, choose to listen to those who actually know.

Mark Sanborn is an international speaker and advisor to leaders and is the Leadership Expert in Residence at High Point University, the Premier Life Skills University which challenges students to “choose to be extraordinary.” For more information about his work or to book him to speech, visit www.marksanborn.com.