I faced a fair share of criticism, and I still do. Early on, many thought my style was too conversational, and others said I wasn’t “polished” enough. After one talk, an audience member gave me a long list of “improvements.” Embarrassment and self-doubt became normal, and I’d often go into defensive mode to avoid the feedback. Over time, I took a different approach. I realized that how I handled criticism could shape my growth and resilience. Now, I ask myself: Is there something useful here? I use criticism as fuel, humbly scrutinizing it. If it’s helpful, I work on it; if not, I let it go. Its all part of humility, and accepting that no one knows it all. That's the lesson I got from this experience. Worth it to me.

“You can either get better or you can get offended.” I remember my dad telling me this from a young age. It has lead to a kind of self awareness around not improving. Listen to the criticism. Is it valid? Make adjustments, practice and move forward.

Criticism is part of life and I will always thank someone first, absorb it second and apply learning from it. I was told years ago that while my energy on stage was fantastic, I moved too much. I didn't abandon movement but I reduced it as a result. Criticism means someone has noticed and have valued you enough to express it to you. The rest is up to you. Can you ego take it? Yes. Then get on with it. Live, listen and learn.