Remember the last time someone told you that you can’t do what you want? Kind of makes you wanna knock them out, doesn’t it?

In the past, negative comments and haters made me furious and insecure to the point that I was just about to throw out my dreams.  That is until I heard a great teacher say that we don’t need everyone’s approval in order to succeed.

So now I’m here to help you overcome hateful criticism by giving you these 3 Important Rules that’ll transform any stupid comment into your fuel for success.

You ready? Here we go…

Rule #1- Turning the Negative into Positive

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so.” William Shakespeare

Sadly, some folks limit their capabilities to what others think of them. That’s why there’s so many talented people settling for things (jobs, relationships, businesses, etc.,) that don’t suit them. Maybe they don’t know it yet but their need to be accepted by the “tribe” is exactly what’s keeping them from excellence. So they join the circus and do whatever everyone else is doing.

Do you know what highly successful people and you have in common? Almost all of them started out being criticized and ridiculed for wanting to follow a great vision. Sure at the beginning most didn’t have all the talent or the resources but after years of study, preparation and patience they eventually made it.

Did you know that Steve Jobs built his company, Apple Computers, from his dad’s garage?  A lot of potential prospects dismissed him because they only saw a couple of scruffy kids with a home made computer and a huge vision. Did it matter what others thought of him? You tell me.

You too can turn any negative “opinion” into a positive mantra that’ll keep you focused on what matters: your goal!

Rule #2- Look for the Positive Feedback

I may be stepping on my own shoes here, but not all criticism is bad. Constructive criticism is a useful way to get great feedback that may inspire you with new ideas and help you make improvements in your performance and/or service.

Personally, I’ve benefited a lot from great people who’ve shared great ideas on how to reach more people or improve my message. This shortened my learning curve and it taught me how to become efficient at what I love to do.

Rule #3- Bless those haters

Malcolm X once said, “If you have no critics you’ll likely have no success.”

I believe that people who love to criticize you are like signposts on your way to greatness because they show you the mindset that you must avoid. They don’t know it yet, but their attitudes keeps them living as spectators while they watch you become the player that they come to watch. They may yell at you from the bleachers but you are still the one playing.

A friend once told me that nothing says “I don’t give a f**k” like a huge smile in the face of ignorance. So smile away and bless these haters for letting you know that you are on your way to bigger and better things. Bless them every single day and hope that they too can get inspired to change their lives for the better.