On Criticism, Cynicism & Sharpening Your Gut Instinct

Whether you’re starting a new business, debuting a performance, or working with a client, you’ll find yourself in the hot seat faced with feedback – and you’ll have a decision to make. Do you embrace the criticism and change what you’re doing? Or do you gain confidence from being doubted and take solace that all innovation is, at first, misunderstood? Knowing which feedback to embrace and which to discard is perhaps the most important instinct for a creative leader to possess. Nearly every legendary innovation was initially mocked or misunderstood by the so-called “experts.”

In truth, scrutiny and doubt are just part of the toll we pay to take the path less traveled. But knowing this doesn’t make it any easier.  The question is: When should you embrace your critics and their dogma, and when should you ignore them and carry on?