Criticism is an Important Part of Thinking

I’m at a loss for how anyone can call you arrogant. Arrogance would be saying, “I’ve figured it out and I do it better than you or anyone, period. Suck on that.” What you say is, “I’ve figured out some of it, am still learning, and I’m happy to transparently share what I’ve learned with you. As I figure it out, I’ll share that, too.” I’ve learned more from you without spending a penny than many of the so called “mentors” I’ve paid to help me. So suck on that! :)

As a RISD graduate, I’m a big fan of the Crit. Yes with a capital C. I like both sides of it, even when I hate the side where I’m getting told what I’ve done wrong. Because most of the time, they’re right.

I dig this post. And I did your use of the word poopypants. Well done.

“worked my ass off.”

And that’s why the haters, hate. You get the success because you’re working when they are bitching. You’re brainstorming, while they are crafting hate posts. Most importantly, you’re advancing (learning, communicating, getting involved) while they are stuck in the past finger pointing.

Recently I posted i would start to disagree with you more, because i think the opposite. I think you get a lot more ass kissers than you do haters, but maybe i don’t see the negative posts. I don’t agree with everything you write and if i feel compelled to respond i will. I think it’s awesome that you interact – and if you dont, you don’t.

With the launch of red pin, you’re a competitor. That actually excites me. Competition is great and we can all coexist. If people hate on you then they must feel threatened and clearly do not understand how a market grows.

Keep doing what your doing – plenty of us appreciate it.

Hi Chris. You only get criticism once a week? Boy you must be doing something wrong!! :)

Chris

Criticism professionally and sometimes personally is not only helpful it can be a healthy dose of the learning process. Personally we can tell friends no wool, man you look great by losing weight but time to get some new jeans as those are too big and that is helpful (as I nod and thank my friend for the heads up on the jeans).

We all are learning in social media and that comes from each other. We have audiences that can become a part of our community, we have people that become our friends as we trust one another to tell us the truth and help guide us in learning and also provide that criticism that is not the attack of our character but is a voice that shows us that their intentions in their words are not to hurt but to help.

People will attack as for some it is all they know. The demean and degrade as they have always done that and have gotten results. The problem for them is that people let them because they knew that if they talked back, that there would be more demeaning and degrading or they just moved on and their browbeating was falling on deaf ears. For others, they attack because they feel that you should be doing something that you are not for or about them. You should be thinking this way, commenting on their blog, being at this conference, loving the phone like they do, answering every email with a complete marketing plan, answering every tweet as, “I took the time to tweet you so answer me.”

It is more than insecurity, building traffic, building their self esteem. There is a focus upon you that drives them to write a post or be the “finally” people. They want to gain something out of their words that many times is getting you to do something they want; and when you react, it is allowing/giving them more to say. If you do what they want, they have more negativity sometimes but when you do the unexpected, they are not only not expecting that, too many times their tune changes. We have seen that … and that is more powerful than most know. =-)

I think instead of looking at the folks talking negatively about you and that having an impact, maybe you and we all should look at the person saying it. Not for who they are and developing ways to dismiss them but to look at their motive. What were they trying to accomplish? What is it about *me* that makes them stew, sit down, write and write and wear that I am so proud that I just said this banner? I really believe when we go that route, we see things clearer.

Chris you are not the best marketer as if you were the best and knew all you would have not have an open window that you share with us all. That having been said, you are the best damn marketer for your clients and there is no denying that. Hmh, how many have attacked that? Thinking none my friend.

@SuzanneVara

Well founded criticism is the trigger for improvement, bitching and whining a sign of success. Looks like you’re doing alright Chris.

Seems to me, there’s ego driven “hating” and then there’s criticism. In your defense Chris, most of what you describe sounds like small minded hating. I’d just ignore it. (Though as I type that I know I couldn’t). If it wasn’t you, it would be someone or something else. Some people just aren’t comfortable with their station in life – be it professional, personal, or both. If they want to leave and spit, “You suck,” then good for them. But if they stick around again and again then they should just be (un)happy for the therapeutic relief you supply them free of charge and/or free of hangover. Hehe

p.s. But yeah, your hair cut sucks :)

You know, I’ve never even felt the desire to write a blog post about “what Chris is doing wrong.”
I am reminded of the way we first connected which was over a post about something I disagreed with due to my inferring something from a word that you didn’t intend to imply. And I had no idea you were “you” or that the thing I was opposing was something you had created.
As I recall? You were very awesome about resolving the issue with me. We agreed to disagree about the benefit of the concept, and I admitted fully that the linguistic bit was 100% my error due to my own baggage.
We worked it out like adults should: examining the issue, taking critique as a useful feedback, modifying what needed modifying, and moving on. And I have considered you a friend ever since and have always felt that situation was a fortuitous one for me.

I got sick of the “you’re doing it wrong” attitude on the Internet. It’s why I have a series on my (really dormant) blog that is called “you’re doing it right” instead. There are enough people who will tell you what you do wrong… it’s useful information presented correctly. But there’s something even more satisfying to me about pointing out the positive. I mean, why not?

It’s mostly a huge distraction for those of us that are here to learn. Like the kid shooting spitballs in the corner of class…. I’m just here to drink from the Brogan firehose and would prefer the detractors simply shut the hell up.