THE VALUE OF LISTENING TO OUR CITICS

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THE VALUE OF LISTENING TO OUR CITICS

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GriffithCorp

posts: 72

Mar 27, 2009 8:42 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

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I am quite sensible of the value of being surrounded by good people, supportive and positive people who lift us up and energize us to keep doing what we do in our respective entrepreneurial ventures. Such people are a priceless element in one`s personal and business life.

I have also found the value of listening to my critics. I am talking about all of the critics. The critics who say "That`s impossible" or "You can`t do that in a million years". The critics who say "You should be doing it this way" or "Why in the world did you think you could do this". I am talking about the critics who look at our faults and our weaknesses and have no qualms about pointing them out to us and everyone else who will listen.

While I do not take well to criticism, I have learned to value it and to accept it. I have learned to value the energy it can create in proving my critics wrong, or when they`re right in their criticism, to improve and do better.

Without our critics our successes would not be as rewarding. It would not have the pleasure and the experience of being able to say "And they said we couldn`t do it".

Without our critics we would run the risk of stagnation. We would grow complacent and full of ourselves. While negativity is not that which we should aspire to surround ourselves with, it is a reality. We will face it and it will challenge us.

Some criticism is well-intentioned, of this we know. But I am focusing on the criticism that is designed to discourage and hamper one`s efforts. Yes, I value my critics even then. I value them because they create a balance. They can create a resolve in us to achieve the impossible or to continue when we feel like giving up. Our friends do that in another way. Our critics have their own methods.

Aly and I are grateful to our friends and those we meet who encourage us to continue and offer advice and counsel to build us up. I am also grateful to my critics and the harshest among them.

The value of their criticism and the way we apply it can make all the difference in how we continue toward our goals and the realization of our vision.

Will Griffith

www.griffithcorp.com

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Will Griffith
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL

CraigL

posts: 9051

Mar 27, 2009 2:22 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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Would you say that informed criticism and uniformed criticism have the same value?

GriffithCorp

posts: 72

Mar 27, 2009 2:40 PM ET Quote Report Abuse

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A gold coin and a copper penny both have value...just not the same value. Informed criticism can be constructive, even well-intentioned. Uniformed criticism, in my own experience, often adds fuel to one`s fire of resolve to prove the "uninformed critics" wrong.

Will

www.griffithcorp.com

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Will Griffith
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS TRIBUNAL

mfackrell

posts: 227

Mar 28, 2009 7:54 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

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You make an excellent point, I find it is important to listen to all points of view. Some of them may not apply and some may be completely meaningless.

However, you always get an interesting perspective and they may make you think of ways to improve.

I ask for advice from everyone I meet. I do not always follow it but I do try to think about it and consider it`s applicability to me and my situation.

CraigL

posts: 9051

Mar 29, 2009 1:26 AM ET Quote Report Abuse

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I`ll hold that uninformed criticism has no value for me. I`m not interested in the point of view. The hard part, of course, is to determine whether or not an opinion is or isn`t informed.

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THE VALUE OF LISTENING TO OUR CITICS

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