Don’t trade away your core conviction to make your vision more comfortable for someone else. As both a founder and investor, I’ve seen well-meaning advice try to mold bold visions into safer bets. Sometimes that advice reveals a real flaw or helps you focus early on: build the scalpel before the Swiss Army knife. But too often it asks you to play it safe and abandon the very thing that makes the idea worth pursuing. You’d be wise to listen closely, continually test what you believe, and be willing to change your approach. Just know what you’re unwilling to give up.