Most people would rather you lie to their face than give them constructive criticism. I’m not wired that way. If you ask me what I think, you’d better be ready for an honest answer. Shane Parrish shared something along these same lines in his weekly blog:
“Aim for accuracy, not approval. Nobody wants a doctor who never gives them bad news, but that’s effectively what we do in life when we optimize for people liking us. It’s better to have the sting of honesty than the blindness of flattery.”
I touch on this subject a lot because people are too soft. The example I heard goes something like this: “A boy whose girlfriend just broke up with him is devastated and does something stupid because he’s never been told ‘no’ before.” His parents always praised him, no matter what. He never learned what it meant to struggle, to fail, or to try again.
If you want real growth, you must be willing to accept constructive criticism. Praise is great, but real learning occurs through struggle.
This involves parents and teachers. Kids must learn how to deal with failure. We must be honest with them (age-appropriate, of course). We make resilient kids by letting them solve their own problems. Learning to deal with adversity is a prerequisite for success.
Ranching is no different. Having people around you who will give you honest feedback is a huge benefit. Change and adaptation occur much faster when we are challenged.
Quote Worth Re-Quoting
“Learn to enjoy your own company. You are the one person you can count on living with for the rest of your life.” ~ Ann Richards
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