What Would You Do People Taking A Bite Out Of Your Success
Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.
Things happen for a reason…I came across this quote today. It inspired me to write this post, why?
“Don’t be distracted by criticism. Remember the only taste of success some people have is when they take a bite out of you.” ~Zig Ziglar
Maybe to get it off my chest, vent a little, but also to share this with you to get your feedback and input.
Over the weekend I received an email from some one that has been following me for almost 2 years now. In fact, he purchased some social media coaching sessions with me last year. He wanted to reach more people about his online business. It was the perfect opportunity to introduce him to blogging and the platform I’m using to get first page ranking on the search engines.
He purchased the blogging system almost immediately! He loved it.
What happened next seems to be typical with most people.
He never blogged! Not one blog post.
I connected with him and just offered a couple minutes of my time to see if I could answer any questions that might be keeping him stuck from getting started with the blog. He gave me all kinds of excuses. Too busy, the kids sports, the wife needing the ‘honey do list’ completed and nothing really that I haven’t heard before. Maybe you can relate?
Fast forward, he did finally start blogging and in fact, he signed up for the affiliate program and promoted the blogging platform as well. He did make a few sales and then I didn’t hear from him. Didn’t see his blog posts, any engagement on the social sites…it was like he just stopped his online business.
So this weekend, I get an email for him. Not like any email that I have ever received.
The email began with ‘you are a fantastic mentor and a real pro!!!’ (yes, he did you 3 exclamation points!) But then… the rest of the very long email was a ‘bitch session’. He complained about company owner’s, leaders, members, the products, the comp plan…everything under the sun. He even threw in some comments that seemed to take a bite out of my success!
He continued to making statements that were completely false, making accusations and statements from screwing customers to brainwashing. Insisting that the products and programs that I share and promote are all fake and just a ‘way for me to keep making money while other’s go broke’.
WOW! I couldn’t believe it.
In fact, I started to question myself just for a minute, that maybe I was not being forth coming and genuine in what I do, why my team does and what our whole community is all about.
Well it didn’t take me long to say ‘hell, no’….I know who I am, my purpose, intention and my why. It’s the reason I helped him in the first place. The more people I help, the more I feel like I can contribute towards individual success and to this industry.
This was the worst ‘criticism’ I’ve experienced in a long time, since my corporate robot days!
It makes you wonder about people’s mindset when they want so badly to change their lives they actually sabotage their own life.
So I decided that because of the intense nature of his email and the outright misinformation that he was spewing, I replied back. Now I didn’t go off the chain! LOL
Although I did stand my ground. You see, I believe in who I am, I know I am working towards achieving my dreams and helping others to do the same. His perception while way off base, reminds me, that most people think this way. And even though he has his slanted belief’s, I won’t let him take a bite out of my success!
What do you think about this?
Is it our responsibility to educate these folks, take the time to respond like I did (my response was just pointing out his incorrect knowledge and that he shouldn’t contact me, unless he was ready and open to learning and hearing the real true information)? Or should I have just left him alone?
Curious to get your input on this…. Because I’m sure as we all go along this entrepreneur journey, we will run into people like this. Look forward to hearing your comments and thoughts.
Lynn, have you heard the saying, ‘A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still,’ a Dale Carnegie quote. I think it comes down to where do you want to spend your energy. If you have a relationship, then a response may be appropriate. There is no requirement to defend your position. Do not feed the negative energy. I’m with Zig on this one. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Ahh yes, I do remember that quote Nancy and appreciate you sharing that! Really appreciate you sharing your insight because I’m with you about not putting energy where it is not necessary. Thanks so much for your comments.
This was a great post. We all get negative people from time to time. The issue is most of the time that they are negative and they don’t want others to he happy or successful. I would have responded too in a nice way, and wished him well…they I would have just let it go. We need to dwell on the positive. I can tell by your blogs you are passionate about your business. You only have to be true to yourself and your business. If he doesn’t get it, it’s his loss.
Thank you Deirdre for noticing my energy! And it is so true, it’s far better to stay in the positive mindset and let others dwell in their own negativity. I can only inspire and motivate but only to those who are open to it. Really appreciate you sharing your thoughts.
It’s so true that we need to be mindful of where we focus our energies – we shouldn’t feed negative energy that’s for sure. Great post Lynn thanks once again!
Simply stated Trina and appreciate your positive feedback, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts!
Lynn, I wouldn’t let him or his kind bother me and won’t spend my energy on him. I love the quote Nancy stated. That is a very true statement. He already made up his mind that this was not working for him and he wasn’t willing to take responsibility for his lack of actions. You don’t want to convince people like that. The further they get away from you, the better it is.
Good point Showleh and I also like Nancy’s quote as well. I believe that I let the situation go and it is opening up new energy that is so much more positive. Appreciate your comments, thank you.
Great blog, good work! Its very inspirational.
Thank you Dion!
I love that you shared your experience Lynn. There will always be nay sayers and haters along the journey and we just need to move forward and let it go which is exactly what you did. Good on you for turning the situation around! Onwards and upwards!
Thank you Alesha, it certainly was the best thing to do, turn that corner. And I appreciate you sharing your positive feedback, so thank you very much for that!
Lynn awesome post great quotes and so true believe in yourself is #1 in my book thanks for sharing
It certainly is a huge factor in building success in anything we do. So appreciate you leaving your thoughts Liz, thanks!