Teddy Roosevelt Business Secrets

rise-of-rooseveltI'm reading a book about Teddy Roosevelt.

I wanted to share something with you I just read from President Roosevelt.

Stick with me, Hoss – it's worth it.

If you've ever been falsely accused…

If you've ever had anyone spread lies or deceit about you…

Celebrate!

Vocal critics are sending you a signal…

The signal is: you're on the right track.

Don't take my word for it – here's what Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt had to say about critics:

“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where 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 up short again and again, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

– Theodore Roosevelt

Now don't get me wrong.

I'm talking about UN-JUST criticism.

I'm assuming you're doing good things, with right intentions, and you're being honest and fair in your dealings.

If you're doing BAD things, you have bigger problems than being criticized.

So let's say you're creating value.

You're being honest and fair.

And then for some reason – WHAMO! Somebody you never even met starts criticizing you.

Congratulations!

The only reason you're a target for these trouble making complainers is… you're DOING something.

Most people never do ANYTHING.

Especially the critics.

In fact, in my mind, the letters of the word “C.R.I.T.I.C.” actually stand for:

C – an't
R – eally
I – nvent
T – hings
I – nstead
C – riticizes

And rest assured, the only way to be sure you're never criticized is: don't do anything.

CERTAINLY, if you're having any success at all, you're going to get criticism.

Welcome it.

And remember the business twist on all this that President Roosevelt certainly understood.

Your place “shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

'nuff Said,

Ray Edwards

Ray Edwards is a world-renowned copywriter and communications strategist, writing for some of the most powerful voices in leadership and business including New York Times bestselling authors Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul) and Tony Robbins. Ray is a sought-after speaker and author, hosts a popular weekly podcast, and blogs at RayEdwards.com.