Why Do Authors Give Such Bad Advice?

Just because I know my way around doesn't mean
 I can give you directions.

I once approached a best-selling author at a book signing and asked what her advice was for aspiring authors like myself.  

Her pearls of wisdom?

"Write a good book."

Duh! Why didn't I think of that?!

Why is it that successful people often either can't or won't give good advice?

The phrase "those who can do and those who can't teach" seems like a put-down to teachers. But maybe that axiom is more of an indictment of those who have mastered a craft - that many are unable to impart what they've learned to others.

To cite a well-worn example, we've all met that tech-savvy person who thinks like an engineer: they're able to solve equations and make gadgets work, but they can't put their expertise in plain language to help others do the same.

And we've all seen platinum-selling singers who can't give one piece of useful advice when they serve as talent-show judges.

Here are a few of my theories as to why those who can do can't always teach:

Mastering a craft doesn't necessarily make you articulate. Just because you can write well, play a musical instrument or launch a successful business doesn't mean you know how to explain how to do it. I might know to get somewhere, but that doesn't mean I can give you directions.
 
Successful people don't have time to reflect. Sometimes successful people are so caught up in maintaining their own careers, they haven't stopped to think about where they've been and how they got there. They don't yet have the perspective to impart any lessons. They can't see the forest for the trees. 

Sometimes success is the result of blind luck, of being in the right place at right time. One lucky break leads to another; one job results in a referral to the next, and so on.  The way success unfolds for one person won't necessarily happen to you in the exact same way.

Everybody's path is different...