Motivation Monday - How do you handle negative reviews?

Summary

In this insightful script, the speaker recounts their experience with receiving a negative review of their book, 'Thrive Journal', on Amazon. Initially disheartened by the critique, they reflect on the feedback, which criticized the book's simplistic nature and appearance. Embracing the criticism constructively, they revamped the book's format, enhancing its professionalism. The speaker emphasizes the importance of cognitive flexibility and adaptability when dealing with negative feedback, advocating for finding truth within criticism to foster personal and professional growth. This narrative serves as a testament to the power of resilience and the potential for improvement that lies within constructive criticism.

Takeaways

• 📚 The speaker created the Thrive Journal, a publication based on a research study involving 17 people over three weeks.
• 💥 The speaker received a one-star review on Amazon for the Thrive Journal, which initially felt like a gut punch.
• 🔍 The negative review critiqued the Thrive Journal for being simplistic, lacking substance, and resembling a children's coloring book.
• 🎨 The initial version of the Thrive Journal had formatting issues, as it was not created using Amazon KDP's pre-loaded format and was not professionally typeset.
• 💡 The speaker used the negative review as an opportunity to improve the Thrive Journal's presentation, making it look more professional with a glossy cover and darker text.
• 🤔 The speaker emphasizes the importance of managing one's mindset when faced with criticism and looking for any truth within the feedback to foster growth.
• 🌟 The speaker encourages finding a 'kernel of truth' in negative feedback as a means to improve and become more resilient.
• 🚫 It's acknowledged that not all negative or anonymous reviews may contain constructive criticism, but it's crucial to assess if there's any truth to learn from.
• 💌 The speaker shared the experience with students, highlighting the value of cognitive flexibility and adaptability in handling negative feedback.
• 🌱 The speaker's personal growth is evident, as they were able to shift from a defensive mindset to one of improvement and opportunity within a day.
• 💼 The example serves as a reminder to seek opportunities for improvement in feedback, whether it's from online reviews or professional settings.

Q & A

What was the speaker's initial reaction to receiving a one-star review on Amazon for their book, 'Thrive Journal'?

The speaker initially felt gut-punched and was upset about the negative review, as it significantly impacted the book's overall rating.

What did the negative review on 'Thrive Journal' specifically mention as its shortcomings?

The review stated that the book was simplistic, lacked substance, and appeared like a children's coloring book.

How did the speaker's mindset change after receiving the negative review?

The speaker shifted from feeling upset and defensive to seeking any truth or constructive feedback within the review that could be used for improvement.

What action did the speaker take in response to the negative review?

The speaker used the feedback to republish the 'Thrive Journal' with a more professional look, including a glossy cover and improved text formatting.

What was the original intention behind publishing the 'Thrive Journal'?

The 'Thrive Journal' was published as a means to share the results of a research study where 17 people used the Thrive framework over three weeks, rather than for commercial promotion.

What was the speaker's role in the Forbes ranked DBA program?

The speaker is proud of their program and is involved in teaching students in management, guiding them to publish leadership mini-books on Amazon or create leadership signature talks.

What is the Thrive framework mentioned in the script?

The Thrive framework is a concept developed by the speaker, which was tested in a research study and is the basis for the content of the 'Thrive Journal'.

Why did the speaker decide not to use Amazon KDP's pre-loaded format for the initial publication of 'Thrive Journal'?

The speaker wanted to quickly publish the 'Thrive Journal' and did not pay for professional typesetting, opting for a draft that could be adjusted later.

What is the significance of the 'kernel of truth' mentioned by the speaker?

The 'kernel of truth' refers to any valid or constructive part of the negative feedback that can be used for personal or professional growth and improvement.

How does the speaker encourage others to deal with negative feedback or reviews?

The speaker encourages others to look for any nuggets of truth in negative feedback, to learn from them, and to use them as opportunities for growth and resilience.

What is the importance of cognitive flexibility and adaptability when receiving negative feedback, according to the speaker?

Cognitive flexibility and adaptability allow individuals to learn from negative feedback, become more resilient, and reduce the emotional impact of criticism.