Christopher V. Flett

Who am I kidding. I LOVE criticism. I know that might seem weird. With the touchy-feely world the way it is, we aren’t supposed to criticise nor are we supposed to be happy to get criticised. With the book, I had my share of critics and praise. The praise is nice, but the critics made my day, especially when they were angry. When the reviewer from  Business Week called me the ‘Shock Jock of Business Management‘, I think she meant it as an insult. I took it as a compliment. I love that title and use it in different promotions.

I grew up in a home where scrutiny  and criticism were the dishes of the day. I was expected to be my best, or get called onto the mat to answer for it. Criticism, if served with the best intent, is a tool for development. The only thing is that the person giving the criticism has to have the expertise to do so.

When I watch American Idol, America’s Got Talent, or any of the other white noice on television, I’m not watching the talent and neither are you. I’m watching for the horrible singers to get destroyed by the judges. My question is always, “Don’t they have any friends or family?” When you sound like a cat getting murdered,  and your family encourages you to get up in front of millions to showcase your talent, they are either:

• tone deaf
• in-bred
• scared to tell you how horrible you are
• sadistic bastards

If I had a family member that brutal that wanted to get up on stage, I’d lock them up in the basement until the show is over. I love it when the horrible ones look at the judges and say, “Well I don’t agree with you. I think I am good and you don’t know everything.” Well Tiger, these are the people that control your destiny in the palms of their hands. In the example of American Idol, you have a best selling artist, a song writer, a music producer, and a record executive. I think they know if sound like a whale in heat. I’m not expert and I know that they suck and that their families have abandoned them and common sense.

With anything, take criticism with a grain of salt. “Never take compliments to your head and criticisms to your heart.” I welcome criticism from reliable sources. But…that person has to instill credibility that they have the expertise to criticise. If you are at work or in your business and someone makes a ‘suggestion’ on what you could be doing better, ask them ‘when they have done it that way and why?” You’ll often see a deer-in-the-headlights look back. They haven’t done it, but consider themselves an expert. If you are an A-Personality, you are likely your greatest critic (this is true for me). Only truly accept criticism if that person:

A) Have the knowledge base to critique

B) You’ve asked them for the feedback and

C) You are going to actually do something with it.

I believe that we all know when we hit a home run or when we strike out. But if you don’t, ask someone you trust who has your best interest at heart. And then take action to get better, stronger, or in-tune and give it another shot. We learn the most from our mistakes, not our victories.

C/