Why a CEO Should Stop Caring About Critics and Focus on Saving Lives

0:00I sell life-saving technology to fire chiefs. We are doing a million dollars a year in revenue, and I want to do ten million dollars in revenue. I'm afraid of building a personal brand for this avatar. My question is, what do I believe about the world that isn't true? And what do I need to internalize as a CEO to solve it? >> You just have to decide whether you care more about the people that you're afraid of saying bad things on comments and videos than the people whose lives you're saving.

0:29>> Mhm. >> It's just who you care about more. >> It's true. I think the thing that's been stopping me up until now is my fear is that the fire chiefs see me and they don't think, this girl gets me. And so, I've always been afraid that who I am as an archetype is a disadvantage. >> Can I pause you there? >> Yes. >> So, two things. One, have any of the fire chiefs that you've sold to said that? >> Not to me. >> But they've given you money.

0:55>> They have given me money. People have said I've heard >> Yeah. >> that fire chiefs have told other people, oh, I could never buy from her. Or, my wife would kill me if I bought from her. >> So, maybe the avatar's single fire chief. Um >> [laughter] >> a sub-niche, for sure. You started with um I have this belief that fire chiefs aren't going to buy with buy from me. That how do you know that kind of falls flat because you've no evidence. People are buying from you.

1:24And the only thing you've had is maybe a couple of comments that are resonating a little bit too much on replay versus the reality, which is that you're making a million dollars you're selling to fire chiefs. >> Yeah. >> And I would say that if I could wish to be an avatar to attract fire chiefs, I don't think you're doing too bad. >> [laughter] >> All right? >> So, the thing that I have to internalize is that it's not about me. It's about the people whose lives we could save if I step up to the plate and do it.

1:51>> Yes. And play the cards you're dealt. You know, like if somebody doesn't like the way you look, [ __ ] them. There's somebody else who does. >> [laughter] >> Right? Like, you're It's There There's a I think you have a desire to be perfect. >> Yes. >> And I think that's actually more of the thing that's holding you back. But, if you do nothing, you will be criticized for doing nothing. And if you do something, you'll be criticized for doing it. Which means that the criticism is going to be a fixed cost, but one of them comes with changing lives. So, which one would you rather have?