I had a phone call with this guy from Long Island, New York. He said some hurtful things. He said, “You are a Tony Robbins wannabe. Your story is cheesy. Stop what you’re doing.” If that wasn’t enough, he said, “I can see you’re full of shit, and other people will think this about you too.”
I said, “Thank you for your feedback.”
This got to me. His feedback was ridiculous, but it really stung. Why would a 50-something-year-old guy say these things to someone such as myself? After being upset for a few days, I reminded myself that his opinion doesn’t matter.
Here are 3 tips to deal with critics, haters, and naysayers:
- Use their ridiculous criticism as fuel to the fire of your success. The more they hate you, the more focused, dedicated, and persistent you become.
- Remember that what they said defines what kind of person they are and is no reflection of your character. As Dr. Wayne Dyer said, “When you judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself.”
- Get out of your own head. Go grab a coffee or beer with your friends. This one has worked especially well for me. Laugh about the criticism with others. When you put it in perspective, you realize that their nonsensical feedback means nothing.
Send love to your haters! They can be a huge source of motivation for you if you choose that to be the case.
Jeff Davis is the author of The Power of Authentic Leadership. Here is an abbreviated version of his story in an article called How to Move Forward When You Feel Like Your Life Is Over.
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