The Entrepreneur’s Critic
About a year ago, I posted a new project on Upwork.com, one of my favorite places to find freelancers. My goal was to get feedback on my book from people I didn't know. About 20 people had already read the book, but I wanted to hear from people I didn't know. So, I removed my name from the manuscript, and I also didn't include anything that would tie the book to myself. When I posted the project, I said that we were a publishing company and considering releasing a new book, but before we committed to publishing it, we wanted more feedback from readers. All of what I said was true, but I left out that I had written the book. Why? Because if they knew the job poster was the author, they would slant their feedback towards being positive so that I would leave them a favorable review for their work.
I created a questionnaire with about 30 questions for them to complete once they finished reading. At the top of the document, I wrote out that we wanted their unbiased and honest feedback. We ended up hiring six people for the project. One of them was a student living in Miami. Another reader was a judge who dabbled in writing and editing. Next, we found three more people with a background in entrepreneurship, one of which had just graduated with her MBA. Finally, completing the group was a 30-year-old man who worked for a university newspaper. I sent each of them the manuscript and waited for them to finish reading. As they finished, they were given the questionnaire to complete.
Being Open to Feedback Isn’t Easy
As I started reading the beta readers' responses, I'll admit it wasn't easy. I struggled because I liked the story, but I was unsure if they'd feel the same. Their feedback was mostly positive, but because I had asked them for their utmost honesty, they didn't hold back on the things that didn't make sense or needed improving. They told me which characters they did and didn't like. They pointed out the things that seemed out of place or offended them. The judge liked the book and ended up calling me to spend about an hour on the phone discussing the story. His feedback was immensely helpful. In summary, taking their feedback along with my other beta readers, we were able to make the book a lot better.
As I was riding high on the helpful feedback, I received a message that my last beta reader was finished. Remember the 30-year-old guy who worked for the college newspaper? Well, he turned in his response, and it was extremely critical. I'll post one of his answers below so you can see where he had issues.
Question - Do you agree with the principles taught in this book? If there is anything you disagree with, please expound.
Answer - The whole premise of "anyone can be successful if they pull themselves up by their bootstraps" is ridiculous and problematic, and just not true for contemporary American society. This is a country where the richest 1 percent have 40 percent of the country's wealth, where the minimum wage is no longer enough to cover college tuition (unlike it was when boomers and Gen X were in school), where you can't go anymore to the local factory and get a good, high-paying union job with a high school education, where fewer than 10 percent of Americans born into the bottom 20 percent will reach the top 20 percent.
The Truth Can Be Painful...But it Will Also Set You Free!
First of all, I disagree with his response. In my opinion, that reader sounds bitter and makes it sound as if it is impossible to rise above the class where you were born. It almost sounds as if it is the system's fault and nobody can succeed in the world. I'm not saying the system is perfect or that it will be easy. It's going to be the fight of your life, and you will have some battle wounds. However, I have seen too many entrepreneurs start with nothing and become successful. I believe one of the primary keys to success is continuing to move forward when it's hard and choosing not to give up. Sarah and I don't come from wealthy families. Furthermore, I don't have a formal college education or an MBA. However, we have started two businesses with very little money and grew both to be reasonably successful.
Yes, the truth will set you free. But I'm not talking about this man's negative comment about how unfair the world is. The truth that sets you free is simple. Not everyone will like your work. People will be critical, negative, and quick to point out your shortcomings. They'll try to discourage you from trying something new. They'll tell you how hard it is and that the odds are against you. In most cases, these same people secretly admire you for being so daring. However, they're too afraid to try themselves. Instead of being on the field, they become critics in the stand. They're not in the game but act as if they are experts in the game of entrepreneurship.
Over the years, we've tried new ideas. Some of them were great successes. Other times, we've crashed and burned. Throughout the entire journey, there have been critics and haters. If you've ever put yourself out there and tried something new, you know what I'm talking about. If you're not prepared for them, the critics' words can cause you to be filled with self-doubt. Don't let them discourage you. Be proud of yourself because you're in the game and on the field. It's risky and bloody. When the critics jeer from the stands, remember that they're not even on the field. But you are! And though you might not be where you want to be just yet, your chances of success are much greater than the critic in the stands.
