If you just tuned in, see the two previous posts for context.

Seth presented many great ideas today, but I am going to banish all of them from this post except one, because I think it’s so important.

The Work and the People

If the people giving you feedback on your work are telling you it’s wrong, that they don’t like it, and they don’t want to buy it, you have exactly two options that will fix the problem:

Option 1) Ignore them, because they aren’t the people who you want to sell your work to. Even better, insulate yourself from even hearing them.

Option 2) Change your work to fit what those people want, because they are the people who you want to sell your work to.

Non-Option 3) Try to convince the people who don’t like your work that they should like it. This is not an option that will work.

Anonymous internet trolls are always the wrong people, you can ignore Amazon book reviews and hater YouTube comments, all the time. Many, many other sources of feedback come from the wrong people too, so choose Option 1 a lot. This is not about being arrogant, this is about being very clear about who you are working to please.

Personal P.S: Another attendee put into words well something that is really close to my heart these days. “I’ve learned how to make money. Now I want to learn how to make a difference.” To this end, I will wholeheartedly expand my businesses to their maximum potential, and continue working to make even more money with them. And, a huge part of the difference I make is right inside my own companies, with the customers and employees we touch. While that is happening, I also want to take the freedom and money and opportunities I have to amp up the “making a difference” part of my life in a broader scope. For now I think this means a lot of learning about how making a real difference works, and what kinds of differences I am best positioned to make. Going to Ethiopia next summer is part of that. This Medicine Ball event is part of that. There will be more to come. Here’s to making a difference.