A few years ago, I gave a talk on growth strategy to a startup crowd. Afterward, someone posted a clip online -- just a 30-second segment, totally out of context -- and the comment section lit up. People said I was arrogant, "all buzzwords," even accused me of faking metrics. It stung. I still remember that sinking feeling in my stomach, like I'd just made a permanent fool of myself on the internet. And honestly, my first impulse was to shrink. Stop sharing. Don't speak unless everything is airtight and peer-reviewed. But here's what I learned: you don't actually fear being wrong -- you fear being misunderstood. That's what makes criticism feel existential. It's not about facts; it's about identity. So now, when I get negative feedback, I treat it like emotional A/B testing. I ask: - What part of what I said allowed this interpretation to exist? - Is there truth in this? Even 5%? - Am I reacting because I feel exposed... or because I actually messed up? Sometimes I learn something. Sometimes I realize the person just didn't want to hear what I was saying, no matter how I framed it. Either way, I keep showing up. The only way to build a real personal brand is to give people something real to react to -- which means being willing to take a few hits.
Taking on negative feedback on our brand, particularly in public platforms like seminars, social media or podcasts, is challenging. But at the same time, it can be transformative as well. A notable example of that was when I was invited to speak in a seminar on personal growth and the role of resilience. At that time, I shared personal experiences that perfectly resonated with many attendees. But after the seminar was over, I received negative feedback from several persons that several anecdotes or experiences were not appropriate for that seminar. Initially, I adopted the defensive mode and analysed that this could be a great chance to learn from the shortcomings people see in our experiences. I chose to acknowledge the feedback by responding publicly and transparently. I expressed gratitude for the criticism and reflected on the comments, highlighting that my goal was to foster an open dialogue. This approach strengthened the idea of taking negative feedback as a chance for improvement.
Posted a skincare review video once--real lighting, no filter, zero makeup. Said the product felt sticky and showed it on my skin. A few users called me "unprofessional," said I should look more "put together" if I want people to listen. It hit hard, not gonna lie. I almost took the video down. But I left it up. Added a pinned comment explaining why I film that way--because it's real. Brands backed it. Sales went up. And most comments were from people who said they appreciated the honesty. If you're always polished, you're not relatable. I learned that being real gets better results, even when it's not perfect.
Turning Criticism into Constructive Conversation Amidst my bookings as a co-host, I participate in several discussions that touch on subjects that are very sensitive and have firmly held opposing viewpoints. For example, during one of my podcasts, there was a political issue that rubbed a section of our listenership the wrong way, and as a result, I was on the receiving end of quite a bit of hate which was heavily visible online. Instead of being angry, I chose to try and understand and respectfully engage with these critics. I explained my point to them and even decided to give one very opinionated listener a chance to come and discuss these issues with me live. What came next was not only going to ease anger but also come through as the hallmark of many of our amazing conversations. That's another reminder that criticism mixed with softness can provide a profound shift, both to yourself and your brand."