Critics Don’t Have Statues

Outside of sporting stadiums, there are statues of the franchise’s best players or most memorable moments. Michael Jordan in Chicago, Monument Park inside Yankee Stadium, and Shaq and Magic Johnson in LA are just a few worth mentioning. The individual who achieved is celebrated. Successful companies that are created by personable and disruptive founders become synonymous with the celebrity status the founder creates. When people think of Apple they think of Steve Jobs, Tesla and Elon Musk, Amazon, and Jeff Bezos. This type of recognition is given to the individual who achieves, who endures— the individual who exceeds all others. Critics do not have statues and are not memorable names over the time of history. Achievement and perseverance stand the test of time.

Everyone will face criticism. Not all criticism will be based on constructive methods such as feedback. Some criticism will be unfounded and based on jealousy, disbelief, or doubt. Criticism can, and will, come from anyone, including those we are close to. Hearing criticism is not easy and depending on what your goal or profession is, the criticism received could seem all-encompassing. Choose to defeat the criticism and reach higher levels.

Criticism is defeated in many ways and specifically by using individual perspectives to put it in its place. By choosing to focus on criticism, you are choosing to focus on the negative. Focusing on the negative leads to worse performance and helps self-doubt creep in to wreak havoc. Choose the opposite perspective. Disregard this sort of criticism. Do not listen to the doubt of others who do not want you to achieve. Recognize why you are working toward what you are working toward on a personal and internal level. Do it for yourself, not for anyone else, and especially not for the people who seem to do nothing besides criticize your every move. If you choose to hear the criticism, do not listen to it. Do not internalize it. Instead, use it as fuel to keep going. Others may doubt your ability but you will never doubt yourself. Keep going until you prove yourself right.

As you achieve, the voices criticizing you will suddenly want to become your friends, they will say they were with you from the beginning. The reality is they did not want you to win. They were not providing feedback, they were not helping you get better. They were trying to keep you level with them, they did not want you to elevate. Rise above and achieve. Critics don’t get the statues, people who achieve and do the work do. Do it for your own reasons and disregard the destructive criticism you may receive.