For me, as well as for lots of other Americans, it probably started in the first grade. That’s where we learned to follow the rules; to play it safe; to fit in; to avoid asking too many questions; to make sure the homework was arranged in exactly the right way on the preprinted page; and to color within the lines.
Those years of learning the rules and playing it safe established patterns that stayed with us when we ventured into the working world. Deep patterns.
We learned to avoid criticism whenever possible. Except that success — and by success I mean the type where our clients and customers are the beneficiaries of a remarkable product or service. That kind of success is virtually impossible unless we’re willing to expose ourselves to severe criticism. Not once. Not twice. But repeatedly. Because those who can only tolerate it once or twice only to withdraw from the field are the dabblers. The dilettantes. The ones who think they’re too good for that kind of criticism. They learned the rules and they know how to fit in. But they’ll never produce anything remarkable.
A few of us understand the simple fact that we do not equal the project. Criticism of the project does not equal criticism of us. If the project does not succeed as planned we don’t hide from it. We’re accountable. We’re on the hook. And we show up again and again and again.
Because unless we take the risks and ask the tough questions and color outside the lines then we’ll never even get close to the remarkable or the amazing unless we take out our credit card and buy it.