It’s only natural to seek out advice from those who’ve achieved success. Rather than try to reinvent the wheel, why not just emulate the creators? Or at least listen to what they have to say on the subject.

In business, such guidance often passes on an informal basis from mentors to their mentees. 

But the process also accounts for a sizable portion of the publishing industry. Think of all the books offering what are billed as words of wisdom on everything from competition to innovation to leadership. I admit to carving out a small piece of that pie in running business advice columns as well as reporting stories about successful entrepreneurs and their ventures.

Business owners and managers can learn a lot from those who’ve been there and done that.

Newspaper editors and writers — and those of us who consider ourselves both — are no different. 

I’ve been fortunate to learn a lot over the course of my career from some talented editors and publishers. That includes a sports editor who set an indelible example for striking a balance between work and life. Come in early and bust your butt to finish the job, then get the hell out of Dodge. 

I’ve been equally fortunate in recent years to learn a lot about writing fiction. My instructors have included some talented mystery novelists whose published works tell compelling tales set in Colorado.

It’s probably true of people involved in most vocations and avocations. But writers seem an especially generous lot in sharing their time and talents.

Speaking of sharing, a friend who writes both long novels and short stories shared a link to a post by Emily Temple that appeared on the Literary Hub website. And that brings me at long last to my point about advice.

The post reviewed some of the best advice Ray Bradbury offered about writing. Bradbury is perhaps best known as the author of “Fahrenheit 451,” “The Martian Chronicles” and his collection of short stories in “The Illustrated Man.” One of my favorite books, though, is “Something Wicked This Way Comes” his dark fantasy about what happens when a traveling carnival comes to a small Midwestern town

I admired two related bits of Bradbury advice in the post:

“Don’t write for money. Write because you love to do something. If you write for money, you won’t write anything worth reading.”

“Writing is not a serious business. It’s a joy and a celebration. You should be having fun at it. … If it’s work, stop it and do something else.”

It might seem counterintuitive that someone who’s made a living for more than 40 years mostly by writing would agree with advice NOT to write for money. Or, for that matter, that writing isn’t serious business. So let me add this. Don’t write JUST for money. And while writing is indeed serious business that requires hard work, it ALSO should be fun.

Similarly, the business of business is to make money. It’s an existential objective. Moreover, starting, running and growing a business is hard work and plenty of it. But it also should be a labor of love, one that’s fun. 

It’s been my experience those who enjoy their work are more likely to enjoy success.

At least that’s my advice.