In January I interviewed Tony Hawk, skateboard legend, successful CEO of Birdhouse Skateboards and partner in the billion-dollar video game franchise Pro Skater.
When he was just getting started in skateboarding, he was wildly criticized for his style and technique, not only by his peers but by nearly all the magazines serving the skateboarding industry. Crowds would actually mock and boo him, saying he was a “cheat” for his “circus tricks” on the board, the old guard of the sport making him an outcast.
In later years, after he’d become the single most winning skateboarding champion of all time, critics said he was ONLY winning because his father was involved in organizing the competitions, despite the good his dad did in bringing much-needed discipline and structure to the competitions and not getting involved in the actual judging. He was criticized for “stealing the 900” from Tas Pappas. Later, when he secured sponsorships and endorsement deals, he was criticized for being a “sell-out.”
While he still has haters, you cannot make the argument that he’s not a huge success, much of it due to NOT doing things the ways the “old guard” did, making millions on his celebrity endorsements, like Foreman, Jordan and countless other athletes. Therein lies a grand question: How impervious are you to YOUR critics?
Someone once asked me, in a sincere, incredulous tone, why EVERY MSP out there didn’t become a member of ours. Simple: we’re not for everyone. You and your business aren’t either. In fact, I would argue that a LACK of critics and opposers is a sign you’re doing nothing new, nothing of significance or revolutionary. ALL great leaders who innovate and defy industry “norms” and the old guard who run things WILL be ostracized, openly. The question is, will you be able to stand up to such bullies and stay the course long enough to succeed?
In a recent blog post about taking responsibility for your life, income and business, a client wrote the following:
“I guess this is proof that I am decidedly no longer your target market. Too bad, you used to be someone I respected, talked about to my peers and recommended to others. Thanks for the memories. Please remove me from any lists you maintain and forget I exist.”
This is a client who bought our core product, the Toolkit, back in 2014 but hasn’t done anything since. He hasn’t come to ANY of the events we host, hasn’t engaged on any of the calls, hasn’t upgraded his account or purchased additional services and, to the best of my knowledge, hasn’t taken ANY of our advice, as evidenced by the fact that he’s still a one-man band after nine years and hasn’t shown us any results or progress. Should I be upset? Obviously not. He IS correct that he’s not my target market, but not for the reasons HE thinks. HE thinks it’s because I pointed out that “anyone of sound mind and body has the ability to raise themselves up in income and status,” calling me “ignorant” for my views.
If you received such a criticism for something you wrote that you ardently believe, how would you react? Me? I use it for fuel and fodder for the newsletter (I never leave any part of the pig unused). Something I learned from Daymond John.
There are all sorts of people who demand you fall in line with their agenda and do things THEIR way or they’ll criticize you, scribbling their hate on social media like ugly graffiti on a bridge. More often than not, everyone bows and grovels to the bullies out there, feeling like they have to apologize, explain and coddle. Nuts to that. I just ban them from the business and my circle.
I recently FIRED a long-term client from TMT’s high-level peer group due to several years of bad behavior, causing a HIGH cringe factor for my employees when he called. After I’d booted him out, he e-mailed a threat that he had kept our “failings” at TMT private as a friend, but now that he was thrown out he was going to tell everyone who’d listen to him how bad we are as a company. My response? Go for it. Just remember you’re not the only one with influence, bubba.
Bottom line, you do NOT have to “just take it” when someone bullies you, threatens you, insults you or criticizes you. You can definitely opt out of toxic, unproductive relationships and survive. In some cases, you can ignore it, as I have chosen to do with the many hateful comments, rumors and false statements made about me and my organization on sewers like Reddit, which is rife with FAKE accounts, trolls and idiots.
Many of you know you have the right to ignore it or even punch back; the question is, will you exert your right, managing your business and your life as you see fit, NOT rolling over and appeasing those threatening to undo you? With the mob of “woke,” righteous and highly indignant idiots out there, it’s easy to forget this. Let this be the reminder that you might need to stiffen your spine and punch back. Hard.
To get 6 irrefutable ways to be a more effective and successful leader, visit https://mspsuccess.com/2023/03/6-irrefutable-ways/
