Ask HN: What's the single best piece of advice you've ever heard?

Don't just ask once if you can help, everyone else does that. Be the person who asks again and again. People will take notice and tell others. It's the quickest way to new opportunities.

Knowing your audience is critical to communicating effectively and impacts every human interaction you'll have.

Two people with an arbitrary goal having separate conversation with the same person can have vastly different outcomes predicated on how well they know their audience.

Some examples off the top of my head:

1) Teaching a novice; understanding their skill level and learning style to guide how you teach and what you teach.

2) Asking for a favor from a colleague in a different department; understanding their priorities, pressure points, and professional goals to position your request in a way most likely to be accepted.

3) Traffic stop; understanding the LEO's concerns to ensure a smooth stop and preferably a warning for the reason you were pulled over.

4) Giving a presentation; different people care about different things, understanding your audience allows you to choose the messaging that your audience cares about and resonates the most.

(in pt): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcI_2zvwejk&list=PL2332BC2EB...

It applies to things other than running, too.