Why you should ask for criticism –– no, beg for it.

FOUNDER'S DIARY

I’ve talked a lot about and regrettably glamorized my story as a community college dropout. The truth is, when I think about all of the experiences I regret missing by drowning myself in vintage clothes starting at age 22, going to college takes first place. I know, boo hoo.?

During my short stint at San Francisco City College, I took a few photography classes, developing my own film and exposing my own very contrasty black and white photos (then, in true scammer form, got a job at a photo lab so I could run all the film I wanted after hours). SFCC is known for its photo program, with great teachers driving in from UC Santa Cruz and other great schools to teach.?

It was during this time that I experienced my first exposure to formal critique. I’d been graded on academic tests and coached in soccer but never created work explicitly for the purpose of it being ripped to shreds not only by my teacher but by dozens of my fellow students. It was terrifying, like the first time you make out with someone and get up to pee naked and know they can see your body from its worst angle and hope they still think you’re hot.

Enduring these critiques turned out to be an incredible learning opportunity. The harsh reality is that we’re often so close to our ideas and creations that we lose perspective, either thinking our work is total trash or, possibly worse, that our trash work is totally great.?

Most of us don’t proactively solicit critique. It feels masochistic –– isn’t it enough that we flagellate ourselves while FOMO-ing at the mouth as we scroll through everyone else’s seemingly perfect business/work/talent reels? The answer is no. Just like obsessive-compulsive disorders and phobias are treated with exposure therapy (putting more of the triggering stimuli in front of the patient), exposure to critique creates a muscle of self-reflection and objective observation of our work that is impossible to learn (or do) in a vacuum.

So, just like a creep wearing a trench coat flashing people in a public park, expose yourself. Let your crap be known and ask for critique. Let others batter your sacred cow around like a pi?ata and watch the wisdom hit the ground and shatter like glass. And no crying allowed, you big baby.

THE TAKEAWAY

Critique is like therapy for your work. Don’t take it all at face value, but plot the feedback in your brain like a heatmap and build new neural pathways to objectively examine yourself and your creations on the regular.?

MY MVPs

1. Alto is a new ridesharing app that owns and operates a brand new fleet of cars (I got a brand new Buick SUV on both trips I took), employs their drivers, and costs no more than their competitors. Like Starbucks for rideshare. Consistent.
2. Parade makes cute, sustainable, and CHEAP underwear. Just got my first few pairs, love.
3. Another Alto ! But this one’s a pharmacy. I’ve used them for a few years. Your doctor calls in your prescription like it’s any other pharmacy, it pops up on your app, your insurance pays for it, and it shows up on your doorstep either the same or next day. Guhhame changing for us depressives.

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