Doers and Critics

Keith Hafner is a veteran martial arts teacher, a controversial personality, author of "Rock Solid Kids", and my good friend. He has always been a source of great wisdom. Always knowing just what to say, and how to say it, Keith has a beautiful way with plain English.

This is one of my favorite things ever written by Mr. Hafner:

"Criticism has its own agenda." That's what I wrote at the beginning of the week on our school chalkboard.

Immunity to criticism is one of the key building blocks in a successful person's life.

Too often, when a person tries to make positive changes in their life...they are shot down by neighbors, co-workers, or relatives.

Here is what you need to know: there are two types of people in the world...

Doers and Critics.

Most people are one or the other. Rarely does a person have "dual membership" in these groups.

Why? Because critics criticize instead of doing anything constructive in their own lives. Being critical of others serves as a substitute (a very poor one) for positive, constructive action.

And -- Doers are seldom critics. They are too busy focusing on their own goals!

If you are a Doer...NEVER, ever worry about what the Critics are saying! Their vote, their opinion of what you are doing, simply doesn't count!

I'm reminded of this quote by Theodore Roosevelt...

"It's not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or when the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions and spends himself in a worth cause; who at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at the worst if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory or defeat."