The Gift of Brutal Honesty

I write weekly about the strategies, habits, and tactics around cultivating the connections that matter to you.

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Today, let's talk about one of the most valuable, yet often overlooked, gifts we can offer to our network: brutal honesty. In a world plagued by toxic positivity, where everything is seemingly perfect, honest feedback is a rare and precious commodity.

Two years after graduating from college, I was buzzing with excitement about starting a marketplace for local services. This was it. It was going to be huge, how could it not? My peers, equally green behind the ears, were my cheer section, echoing my enthusiasm. Hungry for more advice on how to really change the world, I sought out experienced advisors. I still vividly remember sitting at a coffee shop just outside DC - in fact the exact table - where I was subjected, at the hands of an experienced founder I looked up to, to what felt like hours of being told why the idea (and therefore I), would fail. It was gut-wrenching, a stark contrast to the chorus of approval I was used to.

Yet, years later, I realized what a gift that brutal honesty was. It forced me to understand the business at a deeper level and saved me from potentially years of chasing an unviable idea.

Has someone gifted you the honesty you needed? Will you do the same for others?

Now, when budding entrepreneurs approach me for feedback, I pay forward the same gift. I preface my critique by clarifying that my harshness stems from a desire to see them succeed, not to discourage them. It's about helping them avoid the pitfalls I faced and not waste precious years on a flawed concept.

Why Brutal Honesty Matters

1. Growth and Improvement: Honest feedback is the cornerstone of personal and professional growth.

2. Reality Check: It provides a much-needed reality check in a world where 'everything is awesome'.

3. Saves Time and Effort: Constructive, albeit harsh, criticism can save someone years of going down the wrong path.

Your Action Plan

When someone in your network asks for feedback, don't shy away from being brutally honest. Of course, ensure your feedback is constructive and delivered with empathy. Remember, the goal is not to tear down but to build up stronger and more resilient.

To the invaluable gift of honesty and the growth it fosters,

-Zvi