Recently,
I had a book release.
I sent out my newsletter.
I received a record number
of unsubscribes.
I also received
some very harsh reviews
on my book.
I expected all of this.
People are scared
and angry
and upset.
Competitors
(the source of my bad reviews)
have seen a drop
in their writing income
and, for many writers,
this is now their sole source
of income.
People will express
some of that frustration
by striking out
at entities
they don’t truly view
as being real
or susceptible to pain.
They don’t expect me
to answer their messages
and they certainly don’t expect me
to read my reviews
and be hurt by them.
In their view,
this is harmless venting.
I have a name and a personality
associated with my business.
Yet this is how
many people view me.
If your business has
a less human name
or your face,
your personality
isn’t as well known
to customers and competitors,
you might experience
even more harshness.
It isn’t personal
…because they don’t view
your business
as you,
as consisting of people.
Expect a bit of harshness.
Don’t analyze it too much
and don’t allow this
to stop you.