I hear people tell me all the time how I was such an inspiration to them
. They were feeling so overwhelmed and when things were getting really tough they spoke with someone who just threw a gallon of gasoline into that fire making things seem so hopeless. Don't listen to negativity! If you're approached with someone who is saying, "you can't - you shouldn't - it's all wrong", then just walk away. It really does take an entrepreneur to know one. People without our "flame" just don't understand us and you need to be very cautious because they're going to be negative. Understanding the reasons why they're being negative could help too. Perhaps they're jealous because you work your own hours, or they're just completely confused as to why you work so many of them. I don't mean to say that everything should be peachy and should smell like roses, it won't. And some criticism is completely necessary for you to grow as a person and as a business. But there's a fine line between criticism and negativity. If someone is telling you all negative stuff and is not pointing out the positives while giving you insight on how you might jump over some hurtles - then they're just being negative and you really shouldn't focus too much on it.