criticism v. remarkability
Like many others, I regularly read Seth Godin’s blog. This recent post really struck a chord. In it, Godin states that fear of failure is a much overrated excuse for our failure to produce goods, services and other results that are remarkable. What really holds us back from achieving our goal of remarkability is our fear of criticism. This fear is especially insidious because, as Godin says, “the criticism doesn’t actually have to occur for the fear to set in. Watch a few people get criticized for being innovative and it’s pretty easy to persuade yourself that the very same thing will happen to you if you’re not careful.” Godin rightly proclaims people who deliver unconstructive criticism “cowards” for using their “power to injure without giving you any information to help you to do better next time.” He goes on to offer these words to ponder on the road to remarkability:
“If I get criticized for this, will I suffer any measurable impacts? Will I lose my job, get hit upside the head with a softball bat or lose important friendships?” If the only side effect of the criticism is that you will feel bad about the criticism, then you have to compare that bad feeling with the benefits you’ll get from actually doing something worth doing. Being remarkable is exciting, fun, profitable and great for your career. Feeling bad wears off.”
