Detractors: leave 'em in the back of the bus

Seth Godin wrote a fantastic bit of advice in his blog today. It's called "I need you to see things my way". "If you need the validation and acceptance and patronage of everyone you meet," Seth writes, "you'll get stuck, and soon."

As creatives, it's natural for us to want people to like our work, to like us. It's easy to take a critique of a piece personally, to apply it to our own personal self-worth instead of keeping it where it's meant: on the work being critiqued. I've written about this topic here before, but Seth Godin's brief post brings it into focus.

"If the kids in the back of the bus/audience/store don't get it (or don't get you) it's their loss. Focus on those that want to celebrate the work you do instead."

Not long ago a friend of mine stopped by my house and complimented a painting I had hanging on my wall. It's the only example of my own artwork I've so far hung up in my home. If I don't value my artwork, I figured, who will? The friend praised the painting and went so far as to say she might one day purchase one like it for her future business location. People like that are the ones you want to keep close at hand. Turn your back on any detractors you may encounter. Some day they'll wish they could say they knew you before you were famous.

Validation

Many people fall into the trap of creating content and then sending it out into the world and hoping it'll be chosen by the Powers That Be and they'll receive a reward, even if that reward is only recognition.

I'm one of them. It stifles me sometimes - the fear that my work may not be as special or inspirational as I hope. The worry that what I produce and show to the world at large may in fact be better used as bird cage liner. It's the reason I foist my stuff off on my friends from time to time. I quietly slide a few sheets of printed paper across the table, hoping they'll read it over and give me a quiet thumbs-up or a few words of encouragement. Hoping they'll have the courage to tell me if my stuff really is lousy.

But waiting for the world to decide you're special is a waste of time. Seth Godin writes in his blog:

If you have a book to write, write it. If you want to record an album, record it. No need to wait for someone in a cubicle halfway across the country to decide if you're worthy.

Sound advice, but it can be difficult to follow. It requires having trust in oneself, and some of us are notoriously bad at that.

Be brave this week. Follow your creative heart and work with the innate knowledge that your creations are special. You'll never know if you can create a beautiful, inspired work if you don't start making something.