Please All, and You Will Please None
Posted: Wednesday, April 23, 2008
by Michael Claridge
Got2cre8
Do you like applause? Do you like to get patted on the back for a job well done?
You know, I think it is only natural to want, even expect a little bit of validation and positive appraisal every now and then.
But, have you gotten to the point that you worry people don't appreciate you and the work you do?
The truth is even when I do my best work; there are those who don't like it. Or worse - they ignore it. And the other side of that very same coin is that there's no reason for them not to like it, really - it's good, professional work.
It is a sad but true reality that everyone, even your colleagues and mentors will criticize you – even people you respect.
Unfortunately that is just the way it is for creators.
One of Aesop's Fables teaches, "Please all, and you will please none." It's a story of a man, his son and a donkey. They start by walking along side the donkey – until a passerby mentions that they should ride the donkey – so the many puts his son on the donkey. This is fine until a passerby tells the boy how selfish he is to ride and make his father walk - so the man gets on the donkey. This is fine until another passerby sees the boy walking and the man riding and comments that the boy should ride as well – the boy hops on the donkey too. This is fine till another passerby sees the man and his son on the donkey and gets after them for burdening the donkey so much – so the both get off the donkey. Now they are back to the way they began and have learned that when you try to please everyone, you end up pleasing no one.
I'm sorry, but it's just a fact of life – especially for creators. So accept the fact and the happier and freer you'll be.
Don't try and be all things to all people. Everyone has different tastes, different preferences; "different strokes for different folks."
People will criticize you – get used to it. It can be helpful, after all. But no matter what, don't stop creating. You are a creator. If every creator stopped creating when they got criticized then we'd not have all their wonderful creations to enjoy and bless our lives with.
Take joy in your creations. They are great – no matter who else likes them. You created – and that's wonderful! Again, no matter what don't stop creating! Remember you can become a powerful creator, so never stop creating.
This Article has been viewed 2,273 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)quote from the film 'American Gangster' " you can be succesful and have enemies, or you can be unsuccesful and have friends" although, i hope no one would be that power hungry! ha!
Great article, Michael. And we do, probably everyone, likes to have as much encouragement as we can get. Criticism---even when constructive---can sometimes be a hard pill to swollow; but, as you say, that's the facts of life. You either have to accept it (grin and bear it) and get on with your life, or let it smolder and grow and make you misserable. I agree with you---don't let it stop you from your creations. Sandra
I liked your scenario of the mule, farmer and boy. There was a song released in 1972 "garden party" by Ricky Nelson some of the lyrics "You can't please everyone so you've got to please yourself" good article, thanks for sharing
Bravo! Thank you for a great article!
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.