Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down: Use the Haters as Fuel

Steve Jobs’ famed 2005 Stanford commencement address has received over 330K thumbs up on YouTube. Fifteen years later, his brilliant, information-packed speech is still receiving countless views each day.

Let’s search for another speech we love so much that we can’t imagine anyone not liking. Some have over 10 million views, some just 10,000. It all varies. But one thing that never changes is that regardless of the number of views or likes, there are always plenty of thumbs down. Jobs’ has 5,600. Yes, over 5,600 people did not like what Jobs had to say that day.

The point here is that not everyone will agree with your taste in speeches, music or opinions. There will always be a disconnect regarding your taste in fashion, music, politics, religion, the arts or any other area. Many of us accept this fact and move along, not letting the differences consume us. But a lot of us feel compelled to be embraced, to make sure everyone is hitting the thumbs up button. We struggle over the fact that they don’t.

As we enter the new year and prepare our resolutions, we must be mindful that we will not get a thumbs up from everyone regarding our actions. Our work and our decisions will not be loved by all, and we will need to abandon this urge to please. Before we make a change in our life and resolve to alter our behavior, let’s acknowledge that these choices will not be universally accepted or applauded. We will get some thumbs down. However, our caring so much about what others think will only deter us from becoming the best version of ourselves.

Let’s use the haters as a foundation for our growth and ignore their words. From now on, let’s make any criticism our fuel. Know that they have never made a statue for critics or those who throw negative comments our way. Each time we hear a negative thought or feel the power of a thumbs down, let’s remind ourselves that even the greatest get them. Once we accept this, we’ll become stronger, our new year’s resolutions will stick longer and we’ll gain personal freedom.

And that’s the greatest gift of all.

 Please forward and share this email with your friends and family.