One of the most difficult things is holding oneself accountable.
Self-criticism is a skill that can help you improve your performance and achieve your goals. However, it is not easy to be honest and objective about your own strengths and weaknesses, especially when it comes to your business decisions.
Self-criticism is not about blaming or punishing yourself, but about recognizing and improving your areas of improvement.
One of the most challenging mental exercises I have ever encountered is playing a game of chess against myself. It requires a high level of concentration, objectivity, and creativity to simulate the moves and strategies of both sides, without favoring one over the other. Whether I choose white or black, I am essentially competing with my own mind, trying to outsmart myself at every turn. This is not only a test of logic and skill, but also of psychological resilience and self-awareness.
Examining yourself in the mirror, you meticulously assess every detail from the shade of your attire before heading out to a crucial business meeting.
All of these things qualify you to review your decisions at work and in the conduct of your business.
One way to practice self-criticism is to compare yourself with others in your field, especially those who have more success than you, and learn from their strengths and weaknesses. However, this does not mean that you should copy their strategies or methods, but rather that you should develop your own plan that suits your abilities and ambitions. By doing so, you can create a competitive advantage and gain more market share or customers.
One of the most common obstacles that I encounter when I advise people on their projects is the following question: Don’t you think that someone else has already tried this idea?
This question frustrates me greatly because I always reply with another question: Don’t you think that the apple that hit Newton was not the first one to ever hit a human being? The worst mistake is to assume that others have gone through the same process as you or had the same idea as you and that they failed. Therefore, this idea is doomed to fail.
In my view, navigating the challenging terrain of markets is akin to savoring a fine piece of meat. It’s about carefully considering how to approach any market, whether for a product, service, or idea. Much like relishing the finest cut without compromising its integrity or freshness, the key lies in strategic thinking. My apologies for the metaphor for our vegetarian friends. Drawing from my past experiences, I’ve learned the importance of actively listening to others’ ideas and refining them through the lens of my own encounters.
I believe that every opinion matters, no matter who it comes from. Everyone has a unique perspective and valuable insight that can contribute to a bigger vision. That’s why I always seek feedback and input from others on my projects and new ideas. The most challenging part for me is when they criticize me. If someone criticizes me and I can’t defend my idea effectively, then I know I have a problem and I need to go back and revise my idea. I need to come up with a rational and convincing response to the criticism. Of course, not all criticism is constructive, but most of it is sometimes. Some people may criticize out of envy or resentment. They may wonder why I have these ideas or this idea and they don’t. Why can I execute something that they can’t? But I don’t let that discourage me. I use criticism as a motivation to improve myself and my ideas.
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