Originally written in 2011, substantial edits in 2023

“A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her”

–David Brinkley

Criticism is a part of the price you got to pay for being successful. Well, if you can’t bear criticism, forget  your  desire  to  be successful as well. It’s like saying I want the rose but I don’t want the thorns. Rose + thorn is a package and either you get both or you get none. Same is true here. Success + criticism is a package.  You have to take the entire package.

Criticism is an indirect measure of your success (I love to call it a surrogate marker of success). When more and more people start criticizing you, then may be you are moving up and up the ladder. You usually don’t criticize the random dude lying by the pavement in front of TriChandra College or the random person with three followers on Twitter, do you? Because we don’t have any cares (read f**ks) to give about him. Even if I criticize him, you won’t give a care. But if I criticize about Ravi Lamichhane or Elon Musk, for example, then you may contribute to that criticism either by agreeing to it or opposing it. At least you give a care. That means people criticize only about those who are successful and popular. So, don’t shy away from criticism. But beware; too much criticism from many people might also be an indication of your downfall. But bits of criticism here and there from some random people should not bother you. It just means you are on the right path and have been successful enough to make people jealous of you.