Friendly Feedback? Priceless.
One of the stranger aspects of being paid for offering your advice is how much easier it is to see in others the same mistakes you overlook in your own work. Have you noticed that?
On Saturday I was lucky to meet Liz briefly and she gave me some constructive criticism about my blog. The problems mentioned were small but important. Unfortunately to my shame, I had no great nuggets or tips to return, I am going to have to work on that!
I’m so glad it was Liz who pointed out the issue. There really are no excuses for someone who goes around critiquing others to have glaring issues with his own blog are there?
Two phrases spring immediately to mind: “The Cobblers children … ” and “People in glass houses …”. You can see how if you do not follow your own advice how it could make it more difficult for others to accept your “wisdom”.
This makes it doubly important to find friends who tell you like it is. It’s not just your blog success but the authenticity of your message at stake. You need a friendly reminder way before a client points out your lapses. It’s always better to preempt problems rather than apologize for them!
Rather than seeing fellow bloggers in your niche as an enemy or a competitor to trounce, think of them as a potential friend and source of friendly feedback. You can help each other improve and therefore offer a better service to both your audiences.
Posted on December 10th, 2007 by Chris Garrett in Business
Chris,
I think a lot of us are like that, great at giving advice but not actually taking our own advice (if you understand what I mean). When I was younger I was one of the top salesmen at an Insurance company for selling Personal Pensions, but I never took one out my self.
Regards.
Heh, that’s a good example! It is a common thing though, the last marketing agency I worked at still to this day has a holding page rather than a proper website.
There’s another thing about mistakes or glaring problems, though- it makes you more accessible. I can’t tell you how many times a client has told me: “I’m so glad you make mistakes, too- it helps me realize that I can be successful, even if I’m not perfect.”
And… we still try to clean up the mistakes when they get pointed out to us.
Chris, what did you do? or not do? C’mon, ya gotta tell us! Come clean! : )
Thanks, Elaine
Gosh, Chris!
It’s not like I said anything earth shattering. We’re all in the same boat and you don’t know how much you pushed my thinking and always do.
Thank you for being the inspiration you are.
Liz
@Mark - Yes, there is that
That’s about being real I guess, not trying to make yourself into some faux superman 
@Elaine - My main content area was too wide and therefore difficult to read, just one of the many pieces of advice Liz has given me
I just noticed in trying to fix that I broke the comment area, need to look at that now 
@Liz - Sometimes it is what you don’t consider earth shattering that has the deepest impact
After all, we don’t want to shatter the earth all the time, this earth is a fragile thing 
Constructive feedback (positive or negative) is the most valuable gift anyone can give. In our line of business, we ask each of our clients to provide feedback (not just, “Great job!”) so that we can improve and continue to move forward rather than stagnating, thinking we know it all. We don’t; no one ever can.
Working towards bettering yourself to shine is vital in business - and in life!
Freiendly is excactly what blogging is all about! I think blogging is an important part in our social evolution.. who knows, bloggers may be the generation that stops wars..but i’m getting abit ahead of myself…
The last paragraph you wrote, is something i’ve just realised in the last 8 months. And my life is better for it:)
Great post! I especially like the last paragraph, about looking at fellow bloggers in the same niche, not as enemies, but as friends who can help us improve and even bounce ideas off each other.
Blogging is a community, and as such, the community should support itself.
After all, there are plenty of readers to go around!
Hey Chris,
In the spirit of Friendly Feedback, here’s an FQ: Friendly Question.
What about trading in your top-of-blog photo for a simple, facing-the-camera head shot?
I’m guessing that a more traditional photo would help new visitors to ChrisG realize just how engaged you are with your readers (rather than with your back turned on them … or should I say “backs”). I have to confess, I looked at that photo on several dozen visits to the site before I realized they were all you!
With admiration, as always….
Sheila