Be open to feedback from "summary" of How I Built This by Guy Raz
When you're building something new, whether it's a business, a product, or a creative project, it's easy to get caught up in your own ideas and vision. You have a clear picture in your mind of what you want to create, and you're excited to bring it to life. But here's the thing: no matter how brilliant your idea is, no matter how much passion and determination you have, you can't do it all on your own. You need other people to help you, to support you, to challenge you. And one of the most important things you can do as a builder is to be open to feedback.
Feedback is a gift. It's a chance to learn, to grow, to improve. It's a way for you to see your blind spots, to uncover your weaknesses, to discover new possibilities. And yet, so many builders are afraid of feedback. They see it as criticism, as a threat to their vision, as a sign of weakness. But the truth is, feedback is essential for success. It's what separates the good from the great, the mediocre from the outstanding. It's what enables you to adapt, to pivot, to evolve.
Being open to feedback means being willing to listen, to really listen, to what others have to say. It means setting aside your ego, your pride, your defensiveness, and being open to the possibility that you might not have all the answers. It means being humble, being curious, being receptive. It means welcoming feedback, even when it's hard to hear, even when it challenges you, even when it makes you uncomfortable.
When you're open to feedback, you create a culture of openness, of collaboration, of innovation. You invite others to share their ideas, their insights, their perspectives. You create a dialogue, a conversation, a community. You show that you value the opinions of others, that you respect their expertise, that you are willing to learn from them. And in doing so, you build stronger, more resilient, more successful ventures.
So, the next time someone offers you feedback, don't brush it off, don't dismiss it, don't ignore it. Embrace it. Consider it. Reflect on it. And use it to fuel your growth, to fuel your progress, to fuel your success. Because in the end, it's not the feedback itself that matters—it's what you do with it that counts.
