Have you heard this quote from Brené Brown?
“If you are not in the arena getting your ass kicked on occasion … If you’re criticizing from a place where you’re not also putting yourself on the line, I’m not interested in your feedback.”
It’s from her book, Daring Greatly, the title of which is, itself, inspired by a quote from Teddy Roosevelt. (You can read about it here.)
I think about it often.
It’s a good reminder that being an armchair critic (of anything) is not a great position to take.
What’s more, it applies to businesses as much as it does to people.
If your business isn’t out there, making assertions and trying things that might not work. If it’s not regularly doing and failing and learning, then it’s not really in the arena.
And if it’s not in the arena, then people that are in the arena are likely not interested in your feedback.
At the very least, Brené Brown isn’t 🙁
Which means you’re probably missing out on opportunities. And you’re certainly not coming across as unique in a way that’s meaningful to your ideal customers and clients.
(I say “certainly” because, even if you don’t publish or post or distribute anything, choosing a unique position puts you in the arena.)
Once you’ve got some skin in the game, interesting people and opportunities start to come your way.
And that has the potential to change everything.
See you in there,
James
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