If you are just starting your business, skeptical comments can undermine your self-confidence. On the other hand, such remarks addressed to you can even help, but for this you need to learn how to respond to them correctly.
A word of warning to all would-be entrepreneurs: you will hear a lot of criticism. Some of it will be objective, and you need to learn to take it calmly in order to fix the shortcomings of your business. But there are also those ill-wishers who criticize simply for the pleasure of doing so. Here are four types of useless skeptical comments that startup founders often encounter, and tips on how to deal with them.
1. You seem a bit too young. Did you graduate from business school or at least take any courses?
If you are young and already trying to create your own business, this can only be a reason for pride. There is no age limit for entrepreneurship, and you do not need a special education to start your own business. All you need is passion and courage to start.
When someone asks you skeptically about your age, don’t react hotly, get angry, or argue too hard. You’ll just be accused of being childish. Just remind them that fresh ideas come from a fresh perspective, and that perspective is most often found in young people.
If a skeptic doubts your knowledge, remember that passion for your business and belief in success are no less important than tons of information from business textbooks, seminars and business schools.
2. So is it really possible to make money?
When “caring” friends and relatives are skeptical about the idea of a business, hinting that it is completely unrealistic to make money this way, you can cite statistics.
Of course, before starting your business, you will find out how things are with your sphere. By providing official data from various sources – business publications and specialized sites, you will certainly erase the skeptical expression from the face of the “well-wisher”.
3. Is your target audience too narrow?
These are just examples of statements that call into question your strategy, way of doing things, or the direction of your business.
As a response, you can confidently explain why your strategy will work, or, even better, ask your opponent what he would recommend. Usually, skeptics are happy to criticize others, but they themselves have nothing to offer . So you will most likely see a surprised look and hear incomprehensible muttering.
If the skeptic gives you real advice about your business, you can lay out your arguments and end the conversation by saying that you will soon find out who was right.
4. What did you think you would do if nothing worked out?
The answer to this question is: “No, it never even occurred to me. I can’t imagine myself without my business, and if something goes wrong with it, I won’t give it up, I’ll just change my strategy, find the mistakes and fix them. Besides, I just don’t have time to think about what will happen if something doesn’t work out.”
Ask a skeptic if he had a business, would he do everything in his power to prevent it from failing? Well, you do the same, and what kind of failures can we talk about then?
Maybe you shouldn’t pay attention to such statements at all and react or respond to them emotionally. But, on the other hand, some resentment for your cause can be useful – protest will help you move forward.
