Handling Criticism

Hello My Power Mall Member,

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We know that not everyone will be interested in the phenomenal business you want to share with them. People have their preconceived ideas -- and feel very passionate about them -- and sometimes you'll come "under their fire" because they have made a snap judgment. Don't let their ignorance and comments of what you're offering them upset you. But having said that, we also know it's difficult to do that. Ginny wrote about this very thing and we'd like to share it with you. Take her words to heart.

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You want to know one of the things I'm having to learn as I run this business? How to have thick skin. You may not care about how it impacts me (and that's okay :) but as you build your own business you're going to have to learn it as well so I thought I would share some of what I have learned.

#1 - No matter what you do, someone isn't going to like it.

I used to have a fantasy idea that I could make everyone happy. I no longer have that fantasy. I get dozens of emails every day from people who love what My Power Mall is giving them. I enjoy and treasure every one. Every few days I get one from someone who is unhappy, hates what I'm doing, or just has an axe to grind. Every single one hurts but I'm learning to feel the hurt and then let it go, focusing instead on all the people who are happy.

As you build your business you will have the same experience. No matter what you do, or how you lead your team, someone isn't going to like it. Accept it, feel the hurt when someone attacks you, and then let it go - focusing instead on those team members who appreciate you and are excited about where My Power Mall is taking them.

#2 - You ultimately have to know your own heart.

One of the joys of leadership is that you get to call the shots. One of the challenges of leadership is the same thing - you get to call the shots. :) When you're the one calling the shots you can't pass off the responsibility to someone else; you have to claim it yourself, meaning that you become the target of attacks. I have learned that I have to know my own heart. I have to know I'm coming from a good place that only wants the best for people and that I truly just want to change the world through My Power Mall. I am far from perfect but I do know my heart and that carries me through a lot.

#3 - Give yourself grace to make mistakes.

Trust me; you are going to make mistakes. I don't care how much you try to think through every aspect of something, you are going to make judgment errors and wish you had done things differently with your business and your team. I wish I could do everything perfectly. So do you. The problem is that you're just a human being. You will make decisions from what you think is the best information at the time - only to find that circumstances change, or maybe you just didn't really dig far enough to have the best information. You'll learn from it! You won't make the same mistake again!

The thing that absolutely won't help is to beat yourself up over it. All you do is paralyze yourself and you focus on the mistake instead of focusing on what is coming next and how you can do things better. Give yourself grace to make mistakes.

I don't have thick skin. I truly hope I never do. I would rather be hurt from people's attacks than become impervious and hard. I've got hundreds of emails saved from people who are excited about My Power Mall. I read them when I need them. Sometimes I get up and walk away - knowing I need some space to keep perspective and keep pushing forward. I might cry a little. I might work out a little harder to release my emotions. I might call a friend. Once I've taken some deep breaths, I come back and dig in again - committed to creating a company that will create success for everyone who desperately wants and needs it.

# 4 - Accept people as human beings

Most of the people attacking you are angry, hurting or fearful. They aren't attacking YOU, as much as they are coming from a place of fear or misdirected anger. They are angry with their own lives, or they are fearful of what will happen with them. You become an easy target because you are a leader.

Here's what I do when I get one of "those letters". I allow myself to feel the hurt, I say "I forgive you" out loud, and then I pray for those people - asking for great blessings to pour into their lives. It helps me the most because I don't carry any anger and pain in myself. I release it back to the Universe and keep trying to build a company that will help everyone.

#5 - Look for the kernels of truth

I've learned that while I may hate the way someone communicates, I can sometimes find a kernel of truth in what they are saying that can help me either be a better person or build a better company. Hey, not everyone knows how to be diplomatic. :) I can shut out anything they say because they're "being a jerk" or I can feel my feelings, forgive them, and then come back to the letter to see if there is something I can learn. Many times I do.

So, there are the lessons I've learned. I hope all of you who are leaders or emerging leaders can benefit from them!

Ginny Dye

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We hope Ginny's thoughts will help you build a strong and positive business!

We believe in you.

The My Power Mall Team
WahGuide Power Mall

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Shopping Tip: Some people have had trouble with stores not opening when they click on the store's banner. Our store website opens a new window (or tab in Netscape) so you don't leave the mall. If you have pop-up blockers on, the stores may not open. The same is true for the Sales and Commissions Reports. Some pop-up blockers are built into anti-virus software, some are built into toolbars like Google and Yahoo. All pop-up blockers can be disabled. They can even be temporarily disabled - in the case of Google's toolbar, hold down the Ctrl key and click on the link. If you find this information is not the problem, you may have an issue with your installation of IE, Netscape or JavaScript.

Business Building Tip: Wear clothing with your My Power Mall domain name on it (front and back). Wear it at your local mall or busy stores, especially during holiday weekends. Just walk around and be a human billboard for your own mall. (Ken McDougal, Jr., Florida) Watch stores in your Power Mall (like iPrint) because every now and then they'll run a special on personalized t-shirts. Use a catchy phrase like "Finally A Way to Stay Home" or "I Get Paid to Shop Online: Ask Me About It!" (Heidi Garis, Pennsylvania)

Change the World Tip: Enlist the help of neighborhood kids to clean up your neighborhood, or some other place, by offering to chauffeur them somewhere they want to go as their reward. Please receive parental permission before taking children anywhere. (From our 101 Ways to Change the World ebook)

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