Make Money on the Internet

Who is your Critic?

Do you have someone that constantly challenges your ideas? Or do you simply come up with an idea and quickly race to launch it?

If you don't have a critic in your life than I suggest you find one. One of my best friends who was my college roommate and coworker for a couple jobs is my biggest critic. We both carpool to work every morning and on the ride over I tell him about the ideas I'm working on for a new website or some concept and his response is almost always the same. He immediately begins to stab holes in my ideas while using a sarcastic you must be stupid tone:

Why would I like that website when you fail to have "this feature"?
Why do you continue to waste your time on that website?
You should work on that other idea you told me two weeks ago that you still haven't started.

If you're reading these questions and find them rude and/or downright mean that's because they are. But he has a point and it causes me to think more. Why would someone like my website if I don't have "this feature" or Why am I wasting my time developing a site that has a limited potential.

I actually have a hefty bet with him right now that this new site I'm launching will convert at least one sale in the first month. I know that it won't be difficult and it makes me work harder just so that I can prove him wrong. But the primary point I'm trying to make here is that if no one asks these questions or criticizes your work and ideas than you can end up launching a website, product or service that doesn't work well and in the mean time lose a lot of time and money.

So I ask again, Who is your Critic?

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5 Responses to “Who is your Critic?”

  1. Dennis Edell says:
    October 16, 2008 at 11:36 pm

    Yes I do have one and yes she is straight to the point (more PC then “rude” lol) but oh yea it works…like gang busters.

    I have somewhat of a system. More then 20 questions of that nature and I move on to the next idea…usually more then half the questions would take a LOT more planning then I originally anticipated and I have too many ideas to waste time on one.

    I never fully forget it though. I work on all the question here and there.

    Dennis Edell´s last blog post..7 Tips for Choosing a Business Name

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  2. Shane says:
    October 17, 2008 at 5:20 am

    Great post, Chris. We all need someone that challenges our beliefs.

    Mine is my wife. In a series about Frank Schilling I wrote:

    The second relationship that stood out to me was the one with his wife, Michele — probably because my own wife has played such a key role in my success over the years. Because we’re so different, she’s a great sounding board for me. Instead of just telling me what I want to hear, or what I’m telling myself, she comes at things from a completely different angle. She still doesn’t really understand what I do, but that ends up being good because she asks questions that I would never think to ask.

    Like with Michele being “thoroughly alarmed as Frank sank all of their savings in domains,” relationships like these provide checks and balances that are absolutely essential. Frank ended up being right in that case, but if they’re anything like us I guarantee you that Michele’s concerns have been beneficial all along the way. I help my wife be more willing to take risks, and she helps me remember that I need to look before I leap.

    There’s no way I would be where I am today without her.

    Shane´s last blog post..How NOT to Use Pictures on Your Site

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  3. SuiteJ says:
    October 17, 2008 at 9:38 pm

    Um….unfortunately, that would be “me”. I’m my own critic, but I have a few peers who I throw ideas to as well. Maybe I need someone to stab me in the eye when something I do sucks. Something to think about…having “fresh opinions” review your ideas and work is definitely beneficial though.

    Good stuff.

    Cheers man!
    Jay

    SuiteJ´s last blog post..How Justin Brooke Tried To Stop Me From Flipping Websites

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  4. Norhafidz says:
    October 18, 2008 at 8:37 pm

    I got a lot of critics from different people in the early stage of my online journey. But they improved me in certain aspects and I took their critics to help motivated myself :)

    Norhafidz´s last blog post..Captivating Contest From Mr. Javo

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  5. Sushant @ Technology Design says:
    March 27, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    I’m in college but my mom thinks I’m wasting my time online. I’ll prove her wrong.

    [Reply]

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