I remember as a child I hated with a passion when I was told what to do, or when I was wrong.

I always seemed to be wrong. I could never do anything right. If I made a conscious decision to achieve something (which I always did), I somehow manage to break something in the process or embarrass myself along the way.

When given advice, I always heard my voice echo ‘I know.’

Really? Do I know?

‘I know’ was keeping me closed off. I was doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. Truth be told I didn’t know, hence the shovel that kept digging in the same place.

Whether I was working towards launching my online business Hair Beauty Glamour or in the salon Transition Emporium, I was hearing criticism. What criticism really meant was that they did not understand what I was doing. Digital marketing is not a 9-5 business like the salon and that’s what everyone in my circle was used to. That’s when I decided I need to be around like-minded people- people who understood where I was going and what I was doing. That’s when I learned that criticism no longer meant “disapproval of someone or something on the basis of perceived faults or mistakes.”

Criticism now meant “opportunity” – an opportunity to learn from mistakes and also improve.

I looooove criticism now. I ask for it. I cannot develop and grow without criticism. I want to know what people want and need. I don’t have the time to sit around and guess if I’m on the right path. I don’t care too much when people criticise or talk about me, nor do I pay attention to what others might think of me. I don’t even care if they do not like me.

My freedom came when I learned that “people’s opinion of me is none of my business” plus more fist-pumping quotes below to live by. What a relief!

1. People’s opinion of you is none of your business
2. Anger is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to die
3. Accept you are not perfect and learn from your mistakes
4. Don’t take it personally and if you feel like you do refer to #1
5. Learn from that specific mistake and grow or improve: Remember its an opportunity to learn
6. Do not nurse a grudge regarding criticism. If you feel like you do refer to #2

We are all here to learn and grow and apply and share those learnings, and I’m perfectly fine with that.

You might also like:

• How To Own Your Mistakes At Work
• What I’ve Learnt From A Bad Boss
• What To Do When Messages Get Misconstrued
• Sometimes You Need To Fail To Succeed
• Why Trailblazing Female Entrepreneurs Need Flats Not Stilettos
• 5 Realities Of Starting A Business