… was a speaker at an online conference.

One of the exercises involved sending an informal email note to a friend or colleague.

I said, “If you can’t think of anyone to send it to, send it to me.” I then shared my email address.

When the presentation was over, I found about 20 emails in my inbox from participants. Most were quite friendly, and many thanked me for a great event.

But one person wrote this: “I regret to say that today’s presentation has been the most disappointing and discouraging yet of the entire conference.”

While it is always nice to be recognized as “the most” at something, I have to confess that when I first started working for myself, an email like that – despite 20 in the other direction – would have thrown me.

Today though, and provided it’s not 20-1 against, I don’t mind them at all.

That’s becuse when people object to your point of view, personality, or style … it means you have one.

Nobody hates plain vanilla. But nobody stands in line for it either.

If you never hear any objections, maybe what you’re saying isn’t worth listening to.