In 1913, in a federal courtroom in New York, a sarcastic district attorney presented a jury with a glass gadget, which looked something like a small electric light bulb. With a mastery of scorn and ridicule, the attorney accused the defendant of claiming that this "worthless device" might be used to transmit the human voice across the Atlantic!

He alleged that gullible investors had been persuaded by preposterous claims to buy stock in the company, an obvious act of fraud. He urged the jury to give the defendant and his two partners strong prison terms. Ultimately, the two associates were convicted, but the defendant was given his freedom after he received a severe scolding from the judge.

The defendant was inventor Lee de Forest. The "worthless glass bulb" that was also on trial was the audio tube he had created, perhaps the single greatest invention in the twentieth century and the foundation for what became a multibillion dollar electronics industry.

Some people criticise, no matter what. It does not matter which side you are, they are always on the other side. They have made a career out of criticising. They are "career critics." They criticise as if they will win a prize at a contest. They will find fault with every person and every situation. You will find people like this in every home, family, office etc. They go around finding fault and telling everybody how bad things are and blaming the whole world for their problem. They spread negative messages like a plague and create an environment conducive to negative results.

If you were Lee de Forest would you've allowed the criticism that came as a result of your invention to discourage you from moving forward? Many of us depend on public approval to determine whether we should continue with our dream or not. But the truth is that it will be difficult for people to buy into you just like that without resistance.

To make matters worst, most of the rejections could be coming from experts and mentors whose opinion and counsel we respect. I must not fail to point out that most of the rejections will help us to step back and take a second look at what we are doing. Don't take every criticism as being negative.

Now that you know...