Never Criticize

Never criticize, or you then will become a critic.

The Trap of Criticism

It’s easy to point out what’s wrong. It takes no talent, no courage, and no skin in the game. But the moment you make criticism a habit, something shifts — you stop being someone who builds and start being someone who tears down.

Why It Backfires

• Criticism puts people on the defensive, not on a path to improvement
• It damages trust faster than almost anything else you can do
• The person on the receiving end remembers the sting long after you’ve forgotten what you said
• It says more about you than it does about them

What To Do Instead

Before you criticize, ask yourself: “Am I trying to help, or am I trying to be right?” If you’re trying to help, find a way to say it that doesn’t make the other person feel small. If you’re trying to be right — just don’t.

“Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain — and most fools do.” — Benjamin Franklin

The world has enough critics. Be the person who sees what’s going right and builds on it.