Would You Take Their Advice?
Receiving criticism has become a full-time endeavor for me. I used to hate it, but it's grown on me in the past several years. First, the act of being criticized means you're doing something. It's easy to avoid criticism by simply doing nothing. Second, I've learned that receiving criticism is a natural byproduct of giving opinions, and when you provide opinions publicly (blog, podcast, speaking, etc.), you are sure to receive criticisms publicly.
One of my clients recently started to receive quite a bit of criticism.....I mean a lot! First, it means he is doing something. He's trying to move the needle in an area he strongly believes in. Second, since he's doing said work in the public eye, he will inevitably face public criticism.
During a recent meeting, he asked, "How do you do it? Just take all the criticism that comes your way? Does it make you want to give up?"
That's when I shared with him a golden piece of advice I once received from a 16-year-old youth group kid several years ago. It was a typical night at youth group, and each of us was sharing one highlight and one lowlight from the week ("Wows and Pows"). One of mine was that something I said on Twitter triggered hundreds of angry and hateful comments. I felt down. I felt defeated.
That's when my young friend jumped in. "Would you take their advice?"
"Who?"
"The people who are saying hateful things to you. Would you take advice from them?"
"No, of course not!"
"Well, if you wouldn't take their advice, you can't take their criticism."
Boom! Just like that, this young woman disarmed all my insecurity. She was right. If I wouldn't take advice from the people levying all that criticism on me, why should I care about their negative comments? That paradigm shift has changed everything for me!
If someone criticizes my personal financial decisions or advice, I ask myself if I'd take financial advice from them. Do I want my finances to look more or less like theirs?
If someone criticizes my business decisions, I ask myself if I'd take business advice from them. Do I want my business to look more or less like theirs? Heck, do they even have a business?
If someone criticizes my parenting, I ask myself if I'd take parenting advice from them. Do I want my kids to be more or less like theirs? Often, it's people that don't even have kids!
Some of you need to hear this today. Others may not need it today, but be sure to stick this one in your back pocket; the criticism is coming! Anything worth doing will result in criticism. Buckle up and enjoy the ride!
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