Confessions of a Six Figure Professional Blogger

10 Tips For Overcoming Critics To Build Your Business

January 7, 2010 | Business

This is a guest post by Frank Angelone, founder of Social Tech Zone.

The number one thing any new business or start up idea is going to face is critics.  Critics are everywhere and are always going to voice their opinions.  They don’t always necessarily have to be people in your industry, but can also be family members or friends as well.

What I want to leave you with is 10 tips that you should use and implement into your own business so that critics will not get the better of you.

  1. This is YOUR business and belongs to nobody else.  You need to take ownership for what is yours and not let someone tell you it can’t be done.  Really, where do they come off saying your business is not going to work?  They don’t know the time and effort you put in and I can guarantee they’ve never tried to start a business themselves to know the first place to start.
  2. Take constructive criticism and apply it when necessary because that may be the key stepping stone you need to bring your business to the next level.  However, don’t allow outsiders that rip your work or give you hateful comments to get the better of you.  It’s honestly best to ignore those people.  They aren’t contributing anything positive to what you are doing with your business and aren’t worth your time.  You are going to get “haters” out there and it’s best to not pay attention to them.  They carry negativity wherever they go and it’s not the atmosphere you need surrounding your business.
  3. When someone tries to shoot down your philosophy to grow and make money from your business do not be discouraged.  Even if you don’t know the answer, the best thing to do is ASK QUESTIONS!  I always ask people who have accomplished something how to go about implementing it for my business.  They are always willing to help and will help you overcome what critics are saying.
  4. Try to remember that for the most part critics are those who call themselves “realists.”  Since when was running your own business not a real thing!  Most people are use to working for someone and being paid every two weeks.  They don’t understand that this life isn’t for everyone. Don’t live for the critics, live for yourself.  You have to be happy, but do it within reason so you can still pay your bills!
  5. Critics are those telling you to avoid taking risks.  They don’t believe it’s possible, therefore in their eyes, it can’t be done.  Don’t believe this for one second.  You need to put all your heart and effort into something if you want to see your business achieve success.  Treat your business like you would any other job to make money.  You need to put in the time to see results.  Yes, running your own business is a risk, but it comes with a greater reward!  If you are not going to take risks with your own business, you can never truly succeed.
  6. You WANT critics!  It shows that people want to comment on what you are putting out there for the world to see.  If you didn’t have critics, your business would be non existent.  So, it’s not always a bad thing to look at critics as a positive aspect to your business.  They make you want to do better and prove them wrong.
  7. Trust yourself with whatever business venture you do.  If you want the critics off your back, you have to be certain and know that what your business does is going to make a difference.  People want results and even though results aren’t immediate, you want to give them something right from the get go that is going to make them want more.  Whether that is a teaser for a new product or mentioning names of other well known people on board with what you are doing, you need to keep the critics interested.
  8. Enjoy what you are doing!  Your business although it’s a job needs to be FUN for you. As my Dad once told me, “if you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”  Critics want to find doubt in what you do and if you can take what they say, apply it, and show them that what they say can’t bring you down, you will come out on top!  People always forget to have fun regardless of what it might be.  You need to realize you created this business and you are the foundation!
  9. Even when your company reaches the success you hoped for, you need to understand that the critics won’t go away, but if you and your customers are happy with what you offer, that’s the key!  You aren’t going to please everyone and sometimes critics of what you do are never satisfied.  They can’t dictate your business…your customers dictate your business and you sail the ship.
  10. You are your worst critic.  I think this is the most important message.  Whatever it is you do in life, you are always going to be hard on yourself.  This is especially true for those that are their own bosses.  You will always expect more of yourself, which is a good thing.  You should always shoot for their stars.  Sometimes, it’s good to take a step back and look at what you’ve accomplished compared to the person sitting next to you.  When you think your product is missing something, your customers may love it and that’s where you don’t want to let your own criticism get the better of you.  Stick to what works and follow through.  Believe in yourself and what you do and your business will succeed.

Frank Angelone is the founder of Social Tech Zone.  He helps individuals and businesses with news and tips for interacting with social networks and technology.  He is also the author of the FREE blueprint on How To Increase Your Computer Speed.

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  • Great post! #'s 8 and 10 are especially relevant for me. I started my business at the end of '08, and business has been VERY SLOW so far. I have moments where I doubt myself. Luckily, they don't last.

    I'm giving this puppy 5 years to start to produce real results, and I'm just rolling with the challenges best I can.
  • Don't ever doubt yourself. Keep hustling and working hard. I'll be honest, business is extremely slow for me as well. It's all about how much effort you put into it in order to see a result. I'm glad that a couple of the points were relevant to you and that you can relate to them. That was my whole purpose when writing this post - get people engaging and relating on the same level.
  • dropshipmaven
    Great post! I'm just getting started with my passive income business, so I needed to hear this. It's really tough when everyone says you can't do something...I'm hoping to turn around and say, "WATCH ME!" :)
  • I'm glad what I had to say in this post you found beneficial. People saying you can't do something is just negative energy. No entrepreneur or aspiring entrepreneur needs to associate themselves with negative energy. However, that's something that's always going to be there and what matters most is how you roll with the punches.
  • Tim
    Freakin' awesome. I'm going to print this and keep it near my monitor.
    I reckon the word "can't" should be removed from the dictionary!
  • I'm very humbled. The fact that you are printing a guest article I wrote and you found it useful enough to keep next to your monitor is quite a rewarding feeling. Thank you!
  • Nick, I couldn't agree more.
  • Frank - Thank you for your post! Yes! I am my own worst critic! and moving toward building a business, I need to get past this one first to allow myself to remember #1. It is my business - the Catch 22 cycle for me....
  • I am glad you enjoyed the post! Realizing it's your business can be hard to take in some time. Most people are always used to reporting to someone and making a good impression. Well, when it's yours the opinions that will make the company better are yours and suggestions from the customer. Without the customer, there is no business. Understand that you decide what direction your business is headed can sometimes be overwhelming, but when you start to have a plan of where you want your business to go, the notion of understanding that its yours becomes more real!
  • I totally agree... A strong vision and focus will put one in the right place to take criticism and in turn apply it in a way to make themselves better. Critics are everywhere and it's important to know when to listen and when to not listen.
  • Jason,

    You definitely look at the big picture in the right way. It is important to recognize that you don't need to listen to critics all the time because their will be situations where they aren't providing anything valuable. Sometimes they are just there to rip people apart. Either because they are jealous of what you do or they simply have nothing better to do with themselves and are miserable.
  • As my Dad once told me, “if you enjoy what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.”

    Coincidence? My dad always tell me, "If you enjoy doing something, only then will you be successful".
  • My Dad has said the same quotes to me. How true it is! I've talked with one person in my family who is truly happy doing what they do and that's how it should be for everyone. People need to realize that you can make money doing something you love, but it takes time. It's not an overnight get rich quick scheme.
  • Agreed, I had to blog about 2 years before any significant income was made. However, if I was more serious and posted consistently, I reckon I could break even after 1 year.
  • I think you hit two things right on the head. Patience and consistency. I am a patient guy. I just need to be more consistent with my posts. I usually post 2 per week, but I am realizing I need to do it at least 3 times per week. I do like to leave a one day gap in between to give readers a chance to read the post. I feel doing it everyday can cause someone to miss what you wrote, but that's just me.
  • Nice post Frank. These are very important things to think about. I found myself relating alot to number 3, don't be discouraged if someone tries to shoot down your philosophy for your business. It really is a gut check and makes you more prepared. As you find yourself defending your stance, you develop better answers and asking questions is the key. I found that if you take number 8 and enjoy what you do, all will fall into place.
  • Mario,

    That's absolutely right. If you aren't loving what you do, your business isn't going to reach a higher point because your heart isn't into it. I have had people tell me that my business is a "dream" and you need to work a regular job for your entire working career. Not everyone is meant to live that life. There are some people who think outside the box and know how to make money other ways instead of the traditional way. I am glad you were able to relate to some of the points I made.
  • Got to love the critiques out there. I would rather have some criticism than nothing at all, but that's me.
  • I agree. If I don't have any critics, I feel like I am doing something wrong. You know what I mean? I think I'd rather have someone tell me something they don't like, so I can fix it and make it better.
  • This is a great post, Frank and so damn true.

    We have all been there, having to listen to the naysayers who do nothing but throw darts at everyone else, while they wallow in there own inabilities to move forward or think outside of the norm.

    Turning that criticism into motivation for yourself is also a technique to stay focused and move on past the negative vibes.

    I enjoyed the read. :-)
  • Jimi,

    Thanks so much for the great feedback on the post. I am really glad you enjoyed it. Naysayers I believe are the motivation we all need to work even harder. There's not a better feeling than achieving success and proving the non-believers wrong! I believe everyone should look at criticism as a building block to grow your business to a new level!
  • This is a great list David..I have always loved your stuff.. now got to retweet this :), looking forward to the next posts. Cheers
  • I must say that David always posts great content and I was really glad he gave me the opportunity to post on his blog. I am glad you enjoyed reading it!
  • Man this is dead on. I love the over all message here.

    "There was never a statue erected over a critique."

    My other favorite way to sum this philosophy up is:

    "Dogs don't bark at parked cars."

    If you're moving and shaking and doing something people are going to bark at you.

    Love the post!!
  • Tony,

    Those are some great quotes to sum up this post. I am glad you liked it and could provide something that the entire community here on DavidRisley.com could enjoy. The last quote is brilliant. It's true, no matter what you do, people are always going to have something to say. You either take it for what it is, or use it to improve yourself.

    Thanks,
    Frank
  • When I started blogging 9 months ago .. I remember I did receive a lot of critisism from many senior bloggers due to design and many thing . But as you say in this post take those ideas and try to convert it to your advantage and that is how it should be done .
    Thanks for such a nice article
  • I am glad you enjoyed the article. I believe any criticism someone provides you is not necessarily them just attacking you, but rather them taking an interest to what you do and helping you improve upon it. I am definitely glad I took the advice given to me about editing my design for my website because after that person gave me positive feedback.

    Thanks,
    Frank
  • I deal with critics all the time in my offline business. I need them there so I can use that as motivation to prove them wrong and make my success even more sweeter.

    I always enjoy those that say it can't be done when you're doing it day in and day out. Just because they can't doesn't mean you can't!

    Great post, I feel a little rah rah spirit mixed in there :)
  • Nick,

    I couldn't agree more. If the critics aren't there, the question becomes...how good is your business? If everyone is just saying positive remarks, you can never truly grow. The critics will let you see things from a different perspective and make you work harder to please them.

    I think you just have to enjoy what you are doing and regardless of what anyone says, you need to be satisfied with how your business is going. However, I always feel your audience will help give you ways to improve if they truly care about what you are doing.
  • Cool post Frank. My favorite tips are "have fun" and "ask questions," an extension of which I think is: "read, read, read." The more I read from other insightful authors such as yourself the more insight I gain about how to succeed myself. Keep up the great work!

    -Garin Kilpatrick
    interawesome.com
  • Thanks Garin! I really appreciate the kind words. I believe you can never read enough when it comes to learning how to improve or run a business. Learning from others is great to do because it gives you insight to other ideas that you yourself may have not implemented yet. Anything I do today, I have learned from others in the industry. I just take those ideas, make them my own, and implement it into my own work!
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