324. Q&A: How To Handle Criticism

This Q&A episode is all about how to handle criticism and negative feedback that can sometimes arise as you're developing your big idea. We respond to listener questions about how to not take criticism as a personal attack, why your biggest supporters might not be your friends and family and how to overcome the fear of judgment. We share our tips for how to learn from constructive criticism and what to do if you feel like you're losing friends due to your business venture. Your vision is given to you for a reason and it's up to you to see it through, regardless of what other people think about it.

In this episode we talk about:

• Being careful about whose advice you're letting in
• Focusing more on connecting with the people you're meant to serve, not trying to convince people who aren't bought into your vision
• Why having a community like Powerhouse Women is crucial to help lift you up
• Lindsey's personal experience with losing friends as she grew her business
• How to gain confidence with your pitch

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EPISODE TIMELINE & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

( 0:50 ) Welcome back to another episode of Powerhouse Women!

( 2:06 ) Lindsey and Hannah talk about the upcoming Powerhouse Women event.

( 7:16 ) Hannah shares the first listener question from Kristen P. "Whenever I receive negative feedback, I feel it so personally. How can I seperate myself from my business in this way?"

( 8:07 ) Lindsey shares how caring a lot can actually be an advantage, but it's about understanding if the criticism is coming from someone who is part of your target audience.

( 11:22 ) Hannah agrees that it's helpful to take a constructive lens on criticism.

( 13:24 ) Lindsey reads the second question from Veronica C. "Why is it that my supporters aren't my closest friends and family, but instead are strangers? Why is that and how do I handle that?"

( 14:34 ) Hannah says that she believes we connect with the people who understand our vision, and that might not be your friends and family.

( 17:42 ) Lindsey says, "Give those people permission to love you and support you in the best way they know how, but find the groups that support you in the way you need to be supported."

( 18:02 ) Hannah reads the third question from Shannon H. "I have a friend who has pretty much blocked me from her life. While I can't say for sure, I think my line of business has something to do with it. How do I handle the change in this relationship?"

( 19:43 ) Lindsey shares how she handled this situation when it happened to her.

( 22:12 ) Hannah reads the fourth question from Brittany H. "I tend to be perfectly fine expressing my business ideas to newcomers or those I have met. All of my fears start setting in when I think of the opinions of previous co-workers or classmates. How can I get past this?"

( 22:56 ) Lindsey says, "Your vision was given to you for a reason. Other people can't see it. Other people aren't going to get it fully the way you do, and they aren't supposed to."

( 24:56 ) Lindsey says, "Remember that it is okay to protect the seed of that big idea at first."

( 26:37 ) Hannah says, "You don't actually have to explain yourself to everyone."

( 28:51 ) Hannah shares her final thoughts and wraps up the episode.