If there is one thing everyone needs, but doesn’t want, it is criticism. I mean, clearly none of us like it, but we all need it. We need it to keep us humble, and we need it to learn. It is something I have written about before, in this article about how valuable feedback is, while also being something we rarely yearn for.

But something to ask yourself is “who is my biggest critic?” In a perfect world, I believe the best answer is: “you”.

Everyone I have ever enjoyed being around professionally has been that way. They rarely, if ever, seem to think “that thing I just did is great. I could not do any better than that.” Nope, that is the job for people who rarely critique themselves. Perhaps they are even narcissists.

Why me?

Simply put, you know you better than anyone else.

You know what you are trying to achieve. You know what drives you, and what you are afraid to try. Realizing your issues and problems yourself lets you more readily use the rest of the criticism you are going to receive in a constructive manner. And you will receive criticism no matter who you are.

As you get additional feedback from people (could be at your job, on your blog, from family, friends, whatever), you will already have a baseline understanding of what you think of the things you are doing.

The catch

Unfortunately, there is one major problem with this plan. You need solid self-esteem as a foundation. You need to believe in the things you are doing. If not, you can easily get so self-critical that you never accomplish anything. This is where you crossover from making sure you are doing your best, to the dreaded “imposter syndrome.”

The balance is hard, because to always be improving, you need to know what to improve. But you also need to realize that everyone needs improvement, and everybody gets criticized. You think Taylor Swift just writes a song, plays it and everyone says, “You are the best!”?

Go check out the reviews for some of her work…it is not always kind.

Someone I know more about is Paul McCartney. Musical genius obviously, and even he had rough times with some of the work he has put out. When he is at his best, he has worked with great producers, the bet of which was George Martin who was the Beatles producer, and he gets pushback on his work.

If these two huge music artists need people to help them shape their work that they are clearly naturally talented at, why wouldn’t you need the same? But just like them you need to listen to yourself first, know what you want to create, and then let other people help you hone your skills.

Personal Personas

I personally have to really try to put myself into personas as I work. Sometimes I am completely on my side, but then others I am standing back making sure what I am doing is worthy.

As a writer, I try have to have 5 personas that I work under.

1. The writer. When I have this persona on, I am just creating stuff. I try not to be too critical yet, but just to have fun. It isn’t always fun, but I try!
2. The fact checker. Regardless of style, I want to make sure the fact I am sharing are actually facts.
3. The editor. The critic that looks at my work and honestly says what I think of my work. Even when I have other editor involved, mine is the voice I listen to the most. But so many of my best writing has been shaped along with someone else.
4. The consumer. I read my work as if someone else wrote it. Would I like this it wasn’t something I created? Is it useful to someone else?
   
   If other consumers are saying negative things, just like I would do for anyone else I was reading… I will check to see if I agree and pile on if needed (privately of course!)

For number five, read on.

Don’t forget to be your biggest cheerleader too

The act of creating interesting, informative, and even fun content, code, photos, etc. (even about a dull subject like programming), can become a drag if you aren’t careful.

The fifth persona is cheerleader. Just like that high school cheerleader in the last minute of the game cheering:

“Go, fight, win tonight!
Push it hard with all your might!”

Realize they do this no matter whether the team is up or down by 100. It is essential that the team has their positive voice in their ear, the spectators cheering them on, giving them feelings. It helps after the coach tears them new ones (no matter if they are doing great or not!) The coach in the writing world is the editor, by the way.

The best players already know the big things they have done wrong, and the coach is just going to help them see other things to improve. They are their own biggest critics and use that to get stronger, faster, smarter, and overall better prepared.

Life is a complex thing

While can’t get better without critics, you will never be able get up in the morning without the cheers of “you got this.” And this is so much better if some of the cheers are coming from you as you are putting in the work that you and other critics know you could improve upon.