Who You Should Listen to When Everyone Has an Opinion

Welcome to Linked And Lift, your weekly guide to thriving in your career and designing a life you love for entrepreneurs and ambitious professionals. Each week, you get research-backed insights and we break down the skills, strategies, and mindsets you need to stay ahead of the curve.

I’m always refining this newsletter to make sure you get the most useful, relevant insights for your growth.

Take 15 seconds here to make sure the next editions speak directly to you.

Why the Critics Don’t Matter (And Who You Should Listen To Instead)

Did you know Theodore Roosevelt’s famous “Man in the Arena” speech was delivered in Paris in 1910? Over a century later, it’s still the go-to reminder that it’s not the critic who counts, but the one who dares greatly.

Today, we’re tackling the sneaky influence of critics and how to tune into the voices that actually matter.

What’s in Store:

• The subtle damage of advice from the sidelines

• What successful leaders understand about growth

• 3 tools to navigate criticism and stay in the arena

• 🕒 Read time: 5 minutes

Why the Critics Don’t Matter (And Who You Should Listen To Instead)

I think about this often, both in my own journey and in the lives of the people I work with.

Every expert was once uncertain at their craft.

Every success story begins with awkward first steps.

Whether you’re building something new in your career, stepping into more visible leadership, or supporting your high school teen through a challenging subject, the critics seem to appear out of nowhere.

But here’s what I’ve learned after years of teaching, building, and working with ambitious women leaders:

👉 The loudest voices often come from the least experienced.
👉 Their “feedback” is usually fear wrapped in concern.
👉 Their advice? Unqualified. Their impact? Unnecessary.

Real leaders?
They remember what it felt like to be at the beginning, and they cheer you on from experience, not from fear.

What Successful People Know That Critics Don’t

I’ve noticed something beautiful about truly successful people:

They never mock beginners.
Because they remember being one.

The well-established founder sees your first win and thinks, “I remember that feeling.”

The seasoned creator sees your early work and thinks, “Keep going.”

The experienced educator sees a student’s hesitant first attempts and thinks, “That’s exactly how growth begins.”

They don’t criticize your pace.
Because they know the only pace that matters is forward.

But the people on the sidelines?
The ones who’ve never started the business, posted the content, or risked looking foolish?

They have all the opinions.
And none of the scars.

The Arena vs. The Stands: What I’ve Learned from Two Worlds

In my work, I see this pattern play out in two distinct but surprisingly similar ways.

In teaching, I work with high school teens who are sometimes terrified of speaking up. They worry about making mistakes, about sounding foolish, about being judged by their peers.

The critics are often the ones who’ve never had the courage to try themselves.

But the students who push through, who show up, practice even when it feels uncomfortable, and embrace the messy middle are the ones who transform.
This is not because they’re naturally gifted, but because they stayed in the arena.

In leadership and business, I see women founders hesitant to share their voice. Worried about being “too much” or “not expert enough.”
Concerned about what others might think.

The critics?
Often people who’ve never built anything themselves.

But the women who push through, who share their ideas, and show up even when they’re not ready are the ones who create real impact.

What’s the pattern?
Growth doesn’t come from listening to critics in the stands.

It comes from learning from people who are already doing the work.

This is one of my favourite quotes:

Three Ways to Navigate Criticism (In Leadership and In Life)

Here’s what helps when the noise gets loud:

1. Check the Source

Before you internalize any criticism, pause and ask yourself:

• Has this person done what you’re attempting?

• Are they in the arena or watching from the stands?

• Do they have experience or just opinions?

Sometimes the harshest judgment comes from those who’ve never taken the risk you’re taking.

2. Seek Wisdom from People Ahead of You

This is where real growth happens.

• Find mentors who’ve walked a similar path.

• Connect with communities of people doing the work.

• Listen to those who have the experience you’re building toward.

These people aren’t there to criticize.
They remember what it felt like to be where you are.
They’re there to encourage, guide, and remind you that what you’re experiencing is part of the process.

3. Let Your Actions Speak Louder

This is perhaps the most powerful response of all:

• Share your work, even when it’s not perfect

• Take the step, even when you feel unprepared

• Keep moving forward, even when others doubt

Because critics will always exist.
They’ll talk, judge, and project their own fears onto your courage.

But they’re not in the game. You are.

And that’s what matters.

Linked And Lift Picks

• Video: Brené Brown: Why Your Critics Aren’t The Ones Who Count

• Podcast: The Long Game by Dorie Clark – Episode on bold moves and imposter syndrome.

• Book: Daring Greatly by Brené Brown – A must-read for navigating visibility with courage.

• Quote: “It is not the critic who counts…” – T. Roosevelt

  

A Reflection for You & Closing Thought

As you navigate your own path, whether you’re growing as a leader, building something meaningful, or supporting someone else through their challenges, think about this:

Whose voices are you allowing to shape your next steps?

Are you listening to critics who’ve never tried, or to mentors who’ve already walked the path?

Because the arena is where transformation happens. Not the stands.

The arena is where you build resilience, develop your voice, and discover what you’re truly capable of.

The arena is where courage meets action.

And the arena is exactly where you belong.

Keep going.
We’re cheering you on.

📩 Share the Lift: Know someone who needs this message? Share this newsletter with them to help them.

⭐ Rate This Edition: Your feedback shapes Linked And Lift! Let me know what you want to see more of.

👉 What arena are you stepping into right now?
Are you listening to voices from the stands, or wisdom from the arena?

👇 Hit reply and let me know. I read every response. I genuinely want to know what you’re building, trying, or dreaming about right now.

As the year comes to a close, we’re taking a short break.
Linked and Lift returns on Thursday 8 January. Wishing you a peaceful and restorative end of year.

And thank you for being a part of our Linked And Lift community!

Until next time,

Véronique Barrot
Educator | Founder, Linked And Lift
Helping women leaders grow their impact, and their high school teens achieve French exam success at the highest level.
Follow me on LinkedIn where I share self-leadership and growth insights Monday to Friday (except Wednesdays).

P.S. For those who are newer here: alongside writing Linked and Lift, I work with women leaders in two closely connected areas - strategic personal branding, and supporting their high school teens with IGCSE, O Level, A Level and IB French when confidence or foundations are shaky.
Different contexts, same intention: helping people rebuild what was never quite solid, so progress feels possible again.