This isn’t a tutorial on how to adjust your clocks. As a small business owner or entrepreneur, you constantly hear negative feedback about your bad ideas, struggling industries, irreversible economy, the lack of demand…blah. blah. blah. It’s very easy, especially in the tough economic time of late, to fold up shop and close the doors on your dreams. Don’t get me wrong, no one likes to hear negativity over and over, but I think a lot of times we miss out on chances to learn from criticism. When dealing with criticism, it is important to remember these things:
- Install A Filter: Not everything you hear externally is going to be helpful. Be aware of the source the feedback is coming from. Ask yourself why they are saying the things they are to you. Maybe they are a competitor. Maybe they are jealous of your opportunity. Whatever the reason, know that not everything you hear, either positive or negative, is not productive feedback.
- Go To The People You Trust: We all have them. There are certain people in our lives that you can open up to about anything. These people can be key resources for your business as well as your life. Think about it – they are always the ones that are willing to listen to anything you want to talk about, and they are also the ones that can provide the hard to hear advice. Those qualities can be essential when you are thinking about business ideas, growth strategies, or every day operational questions.
- Be Coachable: OK, so you finally talk to other people about your ideas or struggles…now what? As owners of businesses you have to be willing to listen, evaluate, and adapt or change. You’re not always going to know everything or come up with the best ideas. No one can. Open your mind and perspective to alternative channels, products, or strategies. I can’t think of a business that was perfect from Day 1.
- Use It As Motivation: This is part you get to say “I told you so!” Take all the external negativity, channel it, and focus on what you do best. Whether it’s sales, operations, analysis, or data entry, all productivity will increase with the proper focus and motivation.
Success is much more enjoyable when you have defied the odds and climbed the mountain from the bottom up. Now let’s go write your own success story.