I once described how a deaf (mostly deaf) guy made a great producer on his band's CD project. His hearing was so limited I had to face him when we talked, but he was able to perfectly describe what he wanted and even set eq and levels. I had a built-in bias against his ability to even hear but he proved me wrong. I learned a lot from that experience.

One time I was working with a solo artist who couldn't bring himself to make small changes that would have allowed his music to be played by his friend at a radio station. I tried to convince him that there are radio edits and CD cuts, but he couldn't take that advice from me. His music was so personal he really couldn't take that advice from anyone. Later, enough people told him to make the exact same changes or they wouldn't even talk to him about getting his music played or even reviewed. So now he plays really great music, for himself. There is no audience. He doesn't even play out because no one will hire him. His music is good, but he doesn't have the maturity to take advice that could help him.

On the opposite end of the spectrum are people who change with every person they talk to.

Don't be on either extreme.

Everybody has an opinion and they love to tell you all about it. Know yourself well enough to know what advice to accept and what to reject. Sometimes good advice comes from someone you just don't want to listen to. It takes maturity to get past your own bias.

Separate the information from the person. There are people who drive me crazy with their advice, but when I get away from them and think about it, they're absolutely right.

Have the maturity to take good advice, even from those people.