Posts Tagged ‘Barack Obama’

“I’m a pretty tough guy. Are you a tough guy? You look pretty tough. So you’ve just got to keep going on going, even when folks are criticizing you, when you know you’re doing it for other people.”

That’s what US President Barack Obama said when a young fourth grader asked him the poignant question, “Why do people hate you”.

Now, I’m not here to talk about politics but this quote from Obama shouldn’t be taken lightly. In fact, in it is great wisdom. You see, every time you step up and outside from what the masses are doing, you’re immediately open to criticism for not following the normal conventions of society.

Have you noticed that? Perhaps you yourself were criticized for trying to do something which you felt was for the greater benefit not just for yourself but for your family and community yet it seems people will always give stick to those who tend to stand out.

My contention is, when people criticize you for what you’re doing, you’ve hit a nerve within them and expose their own weakness. Ever had a cousin or brother in law give you hell because you decided to start a home based business? Sounds funny but it happens, Believe me (and no not the brother in law, My brothers in law couldn’t be cooler!).But the reason this occurs is you’ve stepped up and taken responsibility for your results and you want to help other. Now they might be too afraid or too lazy to join you or do something themselves so rather than lift you up… they drag you down. Kind of like crabs in a barrel!

One of my business colleagues told me that they never have to put a lid on a barrel of crabs for fear of them escaping. Why? because when one does try to venture out, the other crabs just pull them back down. Has that ever happened to you?

Rejection and criticism are a staple for anybody who decides to go from ordinary to extra ordinary. A business person may face rejection, an athlete pain, a leader criticism but if you know what you’re doing is right by your, your family and by your creator then don’t let anyone get you down.

One thing Thai boxing taught me was you’re going to get hit… hard! And even if you get knocked down, you’ve got to get back up and keep coming forward. Remember what Rocky Balboa said, “It ain’t about how hard you can hit but about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward…”

I leave you with a fantastic quote by Theodore Roosevelt,

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat”

Remember, they’ve never made a statue of a critic so when you know you’re doing the right thing, be tough and keep moving forward!

Until next time,

Keep Shining!

Fahad x