The thing is: It takes a lot of energy to be creative. You don't have that energy if you waste it on other stuff.
Write the book you want to read
Don't worry about doing research. Just search.
The more good ideas you collect, the more you can choose from to be influenced by.
Be curious about the world in which you live. Look things up. Chase down every reference. Go deeper than anybody else--that's how you'll get ahead.
When people give advice, they're really just talking to themselves in the past.