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.