"Don't take criticism from Someone you Won't take Advice from"

Criticism. It's the kind of thing that can burrow into your thoughts, linger in your gut, and make you question everything you've worked so hard to create. In the fast-paced, highly opinionated world of marketing, criticism often arrives uninvited, like a sudden downpour on your perfectly sunny day.

Think about the last time you poured your heart into a campaign. Maybe it was a bold rebranding, a deeply personal blog post, or a strategy you truly believed in. Then, the feedback rolled in. Some of it constructive, sure, but much of it? Unfiltered, uninformed, and deeply unhelpful.

Maybe it was a client who “just didn’t feel it” but couldn’t articulate why. Or a colleague with a strong opinion but little expertise to back it up. If you’re not careful, these voices can shake your confidence, dilute your vision, and leave you second-guessing every decision. And here’s the worst part: they often speak the loudest.

But ask yourself: Would you trust this person to guide your career? To mentor you through your challenges? If not, why are you letting their words shape your work?

Criticism carries weight, but not all weight is worth carrying. Marketing is filled with stories of reactive decisions made because someone with no relevant experience chimed in. The marketer who rewrites their campaign based on a LinkedIn comment. The brand manager who scrambles to restructure strategy because someone "didn't like the vibe". These aren't hypothetical; they're daily occurrences in our field.

What happens next?

The vision gets muddied.

The strategy loses focus.

And the heart that made the work special?

It gets buried under layers of unnecessary revisions.

If the answer to these questions is “no,” then it’s time to let that criticism roll off your back. This isn’t arrogance; it’s emotional self-preservation. It’s recognizing that your energy and creativity are finite, and not every opinion deserves a seat at your table.

Here’s the beauty of this mindset:

You don’t have to reject all feedback, but you can choose which voices to amplify.

Think of it as building a trusted circle — a group of mentors, colleagues, and clients whose insights are rooted in experience and alignment with your goals.

Outside that circle? Acknowledge feedback politely, but don’t let it sink into your soul. Every moment you spend dwelling on uninformed criticism is a moment you’re not using to refine, grow, or innovate.

Protecting your vision doesn’t mean closing yourself off to constructive input, it means setting boundaries.

• Define your trusted critics, the people whose advice you value.

• Establish criteria for what makes feedback worth acting on.

• Learn to gracefully let go of the rest.

  
  

“Don’t take criticism from someone you wouldn’t take advice from.” 

This isn’t just a quote—it’s a call to action.

A reminder to trust yourself, your instincts, and your journey.

The next time you’re faced with criticism, pause.

Take a deep breath. And ask: Does this voice deserve to shape my work? If not, let it go.

Marketing is about creativity, connection, and courage.

Don’t let unqualified voices steal that from you.