Postcards from the Funny Farm

“Our lives are co-authored in dialogue.” -Michael P. Nichols, Ph.D.

Why am I opposed to people correcting me? In many ways, it’s the best tool you can have in business. On one of my other sites this morning, a woman left a cryptic message with no link back saying simply “Please correct the error in your title.” I was offended because she could have mentioned something about the article and then made the correction. Instead, she just left that rude comment (Most blogs do have a discreet contact link for these things). Is she excited that she knows the difference between the homophones “your” and “you’re” and thinks I need that pointed out with an MA in English, a published thesis, and 10 years of teaching behind me?  Then I calmed down and got to thinking:

What if 100 or more people would have read that with the typo?  Maybe untold sets of readers would have less respect for me as a writer?  That woman did me a favor.  Who am I to question the way she did it.

Getting feedback as a good thing from your readers on a blog is a given, it’s a medium you are hoping to have an audience for.  But what about other aspects of life: marriage, friendships, even family interaction.  I believe we should be open to feedback as a corrective, ongoing process.  Especially if you are a creative person, feedback can help mold your life into the beautiful art project you hope it to be.

Like Jesus said: “Love your enemies.”  He was really onto something there.  If I replace the word “love” with “listen to,” you will see it has clear application in this post.  Friends of course are much preferable to enemies as far as tone and proximity.  But, only the friends that aren’t afraid to wound are the ones of real worth in the growth process.  I am not saying we should hang around people who put us down.  On the oher hand I am saying that if we insulate ourselves only with friends who never tell us when we’re wrong, we will be lesser people having walked the Earth.

If you are the giver of the correction, be kind.

I want to encourage you to ask people in your circle to please tell you when you are wrong.  Send out questionairres to past clients at work.  Make those long neglected calls to the people in your life who you’ve ben avoiding because they point out your shortcomings.  Most of all, don’t despise correction, it may very well be the best friend you have in this world. *Noted to self as well!