Criticism from those who have not achieved what you're aiming for is irrelevant noise. People who are more successful in a given domain rarely criticize those trying to follow. The loudest critics are typically on the sidelines, with ample time to comment because they aren't actively building anything themselves.

Fear of negative feedback prevents many professionals from posting content. Reframe this fear by understanding the psychology of trolls. People who leave hateful comments are often in pain themselves, and lashing out is their way of seeking temporary relief. Their comments are a reflection of them, not you.

When receiving criticism or mentorship, evaluate the person's entire life—not just their success in one domain. If their family life, health, or character are not what you aspire to, their advice may be misaligned with your values, regardless of their financial or professional achievements.

People avoid taking risks because they fear judgment from their conservative community. The hidden truth is that successful people are already silently judging you for your inaction. You are being judged regardless, so choose to live a life that earns the respect of winners.

The natural instinct to be a "people-pleaser" should not apply to anonymous online commenters. Public figures must mentally separate feedback from their actual community (family, team) from criticism by strangers like "Sally Pants 49." You don't owe your happiness or strategy to people you don't know.

The most vitriolic critics of your startup are almost never successful founders. People 'in the arena' understand the struggle and offer constructive feedback. Detractors are often 'in the stands,' tearing others down because they haven't experienced the challenges of building something worthwhile.

After his first event, negative social media feedback nearly caused the founder to quit Twitter. Advice from experienced CEOs reframed the trolling as a sign of visibility, teaching him that if you're reaching people, you can't only be visible to positive voices.

Reframe negative comments as a reflection of the commenter's own unhappiness, not a valid critique of your work. People who take time to spread negativity are in a sad place. Letting their misery stop you from building your business is a choice rooted in your own insecurity, not a rational response to feedback.

Engaging in online arguments is fruitless because from a distance, neutral observers can't tell who the rational person is and who the fool is. The best strategy for dealing with personal attacks and criticism online is to refuse to engage, letting the critic's opinion stand without fueling it.