Today a co-worker of mine shared a very straightforward, touching and meaningful quote from one of this nation’s great presidents (well, one could argue against it, but that is not the point), Teddy Roosevelt.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the
strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them
better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena,
whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives
valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is
no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive
to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who
spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the
triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at
least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be
with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

It amazes me at how quickly people are to jump at the opportunity to be a naysayer on a particle issue, idea, company, etc. It is extremely easy for someone to point out flaws in something that they have not either been personally involved in or even taken the time to understand all that went in to it to make it what it is. It is better to have tried and failed than to never have tried at all. A lot can be learned from failure that can be applied to your next venture, whatever it may be. On the flip side, if you are successful, there will be plenty of people waiting in the wings to quickly point out your flaws and try to put your down. Perhaps it is jealously or sheer ignorance, but whatever the reason, it is wrong.

The next time you are considering being a naysayer about someone else’s accomplishments, walk a mile in their shoes so you understand what they have gone through. Only thing do you hold the right to criticize.

Thanks marchdoe for sharing the quote