How to Handle Criticism And Become a Pioneer
By Paul Waugh, Lighthouse International Head Mentor
This video is taken from a live recording of Lighthouse International Head Mentor, Paul Waugh, explaining why true pioneers take so long and produce so few results until they breakthrough.
The focus of the video is on the immense challenges faced by Thomas Edison and how he proved his critics wrong after 10 years of not making a profit when developing the lightbulb.
If you want to learn how to become a pioneer, withstand criticism and make a difference, you can speak to one of the Lighthouse mentoring team here.
Wait! There’s More…
Click here to read more about Thomas Edison and his pioneering journey to invent the lightbulb
What a great education in learning what it takes to be a pioneer. What I really appreciated is the reality check of what is needed to succeed. I’ve read about Thomas Ederson and the 10,000 attempts to succeed with the Lightbulb before, but I never knew how he succeeded with a group of other people and how much pain and criticism he took.
It’s really humbling to see how he overcame that and just what it takes to be a pioneer.
Thank you so much for this incredible video! I found this video very moving and I will not look at a lightbulb in the same way again! To think of the things I take for granted each day, without recognising the pioneering struggle behind making it possible is deeply humbling. What really hit me through the video is seeing what it means to be a true pioneer, to see every wrong result as another step forward and to do so in the face of all odds, opposition and criticism from others!
Something I also didn’t realise is how Thomas Edison was able to achieve what he did through the synergy of working together with others towards a shared common goal! I so often look at achievements through the myth of people being ‘self made’, without recognising and appreciating the synergistic power of community in achieving our aims, far beyond what would be possible for us to achieve individually.
Such an inspiring story, it’s amazing how we take these things for granted. How different our world would be without his pioneering attitude, his perseverance in the face of cynicism and adversity. He had a vision and he followed his vision but it was only when he came together with the others and built that trust, created that synergy, brought the group together in line with his vision that it was made possible. It shows the power of great leadership. He saw every failure as a step forward when you learn from that failure. A powerful lesson to take forward in life.
I was not brought up to realise that to fail was another opportunity towards the goal of success. Each failure compounded my already low self-esteem, and panic would result- based on fear and shame … a result of toxic parenting. I have lived without knowing this reality for my whole life…72 years plus, and my life would have been so much more productive, peaceful and joyful, if I had been encouraged and learnt this valuable insight, as a young child, instead of being labelled as ‘useless.’ It is never too late to learn this lesson and start the blossoming process through caring mentorship. Thank you so much Paul Waugh!