“We all need people who will give us feedback. That’s how we improve.” – Bill Gates
Growth can be a very lonely journey.
You set out with big dreams, a clear vision, and an insatiable desire to achieve a goal. But along the way, you realise that progress is slow, setbacks are frequent, and the path ahead is often unclear.
This is when an inexplicable loneliness creeps in. You start to feel isolated like you’re walking through a fog without knowing if you’re headed in the right direction. This loneliness of growth isn’t just physical. It often presents with a feeling of being misunderstood, questioning whether your efforts are worthwhile, and struggling to see tangible results. You start to doubt yourself. You wonder if you’re good enough, if your ideas have merit, and if you’re on the right track.
Believe me, I’m currently navigating a foggy growth path. In moments like this, when navigating the unknown and unfamiliar, I’ve found that feedback from my community is a reliable compass that can make all the difference. The collective wisdom of those around me has been instrumental in giving me perspective when I can’t see clearly, and it’s a lifeline that keeps me grounded and moving forward.
So, what am I saying?
We All Need Some Type Of North Star.
When you’re on a growth journey, feedback is your North Star. It guides you, illuminates your blind spots, and helps you calibrate your actions. Without it, you’re flying blind, relying solely on your judgment, which can often be clouded by emotion and self-doubt. The people around you—your friends, mentors, colleagues, and even critics—can offer insights you might miss on your own.
Just a few years ago when I was navigating a lonely path as a first-time entrepreneur, my early ventures were met with mixed results, and it was the candid feedback from my network that helped me refine my understanding and approach to running a business. Friends and mentors pointed out gaps in my business models and suggested strategies I hadn’t considered. Their input wasn’t always easy to hear, but it was invaluable. It helped me pivot, find my niche, and ultimately, find the path to my present point in life.
Feedback must not just be praise or criticism; its main result should be helping you find direction. It should help you understand what’s working and what isn’t, and have the courage to adjust course.
That’s why we all need to have a:
Community of People Invested in Our Success.
Growth may be a personal journey, but it’s never truly a solitary one. Every one of us needs a community—whether it’s a group of peers, an audience, or a circle of advisors—as an essential part of our growth process. They’re the ones who can see what you can’t, who can offer support when you’re struggling, and who can provide the honest feedback that propels you forward.
There are numerous success stories of people across the country who have benefited from the support of people around them. Instead of retreating into the isolation of their journies, they engaged their communities—spoke to other competitors, sought feedback from potential investors, and listened carefully to the concerns of their teams.
All of this varying community feedback is important for refining plans, anticipating challenges, and adapting strategies. No man is an island. So when you finally make it through your growth journey to your celebration phase, you’ll see that all of your success was the result of a collaborative effort shaped by diverse perspectives. This is what can happen when you’re open to feedback and willing to let your community be part of your growth journey.
So, what should you do? First is to:
Seek Out Criticism.
One of the hardest things to do, especially when you’re feeling vulnerable, is to seek out criticism. As humans, we’re naturally wired to avoid discomfort, and criticism can feel like an attack on our very identity. But the most valuable feedback often comes from those willing to point out what we’d rather not see. The feedback from these people is often not intended to tear you down; they’re usually trying to help you build something stronger.
When you’re on a growth journey, it’s tempting to only seek feedback from those who will affirm your choices. But that’s a trap. The real gold for growth lies in the tough conversations, the honest critiques, and the insights that challenge your assumptions. This is the kind of feedback that makes you better, sharper, and more resilient.
The next thing to do is to:
Create a Feedback Loop
The most successful people all do this. They actively create feedback loops by building systems and routines that ensure they’re constantly receiving input from their community. Whether it’s regular check-ins with mentors, open channels for customer feedback, or brainstorming sessions with peers, they’ve institutionalised the practice of listening and learning. Look at Ife with her DANG community, from feedback on her DANG Lifestyle products to relationships, she gets advice and criticisms on different issues in real time. And now, her community members benefit from it by sending in their issues for the entire community to contribute their different viewpoints. That’s a successful loop.
The problem is that creating a feedback loop doesn’t just happen, it requires deliberately and proactively seeking out diverse perspectives. This makes it easy for people to give you feedback, and for you to be disciplined about acting on it. Also, the openness to request and receive feedback accelerates your growth and deepens your connections with those around you.
So, the next time you feel lost or overwhelmed, remember: you don’t have to go it alone. Reach out to your community. Seek their feedback, listen to their insights, and let their perspectives guide you. Because in the end, growth isn’t only about where you end up—it’s also about how you get there. And the people who help you along the way make the journey that much richer.
So, figure out who is part of your community, create a loop for gathering their feedback, and you’ll be amazed at how far you can go.
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