You Can’t Please Everyone

I went to a networking event, made some new connections, and had a good time. After the event, I sat down for lunch with someone I had met at the event. He was a friendly guy, but his comment caught me off-guard.

He said, “You need to be more humble.”

At that particular networking event in New York City where I met him, I was bold and outgoing. I confidently introduced myself to a lot of people, and did so respectfully.

None of my friends and colleagues had ever told me I lacked humility. But I took this guy’s feedback to heart. At another event, I changed my approach. I was less bold.

At the end of this other event a well-meaning guy came up to me and said, “You would be better off being less humble.”

I speak in terms of possibilities and you’ll rarely see me using the word “impossible”. With that said, there’s something I know for sure: it’s impossible to please everyone.

No matter what you do, someone is going to criticize you for it. No matter how genuine your intentions are, how many people you help, and how big of a difference you make, someone is going to have a problem with you.

Constructive feedback is a good thing when it comes from the right person in the right way, but don’t change your approach for every critic. Keep being true to who you are and what you feel is best.

Jeff Davis is the bestselling author of The Power of Authentic Leadership.