So “The Da Vinci Code” grossed about a cool quarter billion dollars this past weekend (I made my contribution to ticket sales on Friday night). Funny...the critics said it was a bad movie. Guess we - the public - disagreed. Got me thinking about critics - and what would happen to our dreams if we actually listened to them.

I spent much of this past weekend doing a Clean Sweep. Cleaned out my garage. Cleaned out my basement. Cleaned up my office at home (I can actually see my floor now). As I rummaged through all the files, magazines and papers, I came across a document that caused me to sit down and take stock. It was dated “October 30, 1995”. A letter from the man who I asked to edit “The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari” when it was just a manuscript and I was a very unhappy lawyer with nothing more than an outrageous goal of leaving the Law to spend my life helping other human beings get to their greatness. Here's an excerpt of what it said:

“Robin Sharma. There are major problems with The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari. There's no use in mincing words...Your characters don't emerge as more than stereotypes...Julian Mantle...we're not touched by his humanity. And (as for John-the narrator), his relationship with Mantle generates no sparks, just attraction, which gets pretty boring...I'm sure my reaction to your work has disappointed you, but I hope my suggestions will be helpful. Good writing takes hard, hard work. Unfortunately, good writing looks easy. It isn't.”

I still remember the way I felt when I first read his letter over 10 years ago. I walked over to my car and sat in it for 30 minutes - the wind knocked out of me, eyes closed - completely still. Self-doubt flooded my mind. My confidence plummeted. I felt stupid. I thought of giving up. Because a critic had spoken. And he didn't like my work.

That all lasted for all of 30 minutes. Then the better part of me spoke up. Boldly. With conviction. I realized that every dreamer gets knocked down.

I realized that his letter was just his opinion. Many authors have heard a lot worse. I wasn't going to let his criticism define nor limit me. It's so easy to criticize someone and find fault with what they do. Anyone can do that with a few words or by a few keystrokes (just look at all the online critics/armchair activists - putting people down and pretending that they know better; talk is cheap...let's see them do better). What's a lot harder than condemning others is doing something with your big ideas. Leaving your comfort zone. Dealing with the inevitable struggles. Chasing your dream.

Guess what I've done with the letter? No, I didn't use it for the barbeque the kids and I did last night. I had it framed. Every day I'll look at it. And when I do, I know I'll remember one of the first principles of sustained success: only those who turn deaf ears to the chattering critics can get to their best.