3 ideas
Before lending to a friend, treat the sum as already given away and lend only what you could lose without resentment. Repayment then becomes a bonus rather than a debt to be pursued, so the friendship survives a default. Chasing a loan from a friend usually costs both the money and the relationship.
Before acting, seek counsel, especially from people with long experience of similar affairs. Weigh each piece of advice on its merits rather than on the adviser's rank. Take the final decision yourself, because consultation supplies information and perspective, not responsibility.
Rank and inherited wealth can be lost through war, politics or misfortune, so even a prince should master a craft or profession. A practical skill carries over into any circumstance and is a form of insurance that no reversal can confiscate. It lets a person earn a living without depending on others if their status collapses.