My First Million
The best business ideas come from noticing what's working and doing it better, faster, or for a different audience.
Rules for Productive Criticism
A systematic approach to giving feedback that positions criticism as investment in someone's growth rather than negative judgment. Based on six specific rules that maximize learning while minimizing defensiveness.
How It Works
Works by removing shame and emotional barriers that prevent people from receiving feedback. When criticism feels like investment rather than attack, people remain open to learning and improvement.
Components
Criticize in private to avoid shame
Focus on behavior, not the person's character
Be consistent - don't skip opportunities based on mood
Never use sarcasm during criticism
Remove emotion from delivery
Praise more than you criticize
When to Use
When leading teams that need continuous improvement, managing high-performance environments, or developing people who want to grow professionally.
When Not to Use
In crisis situations requiring immediate compliance, with people who haven't demonstrated they want to improve, or when the relationship foundation isn't strong enough.
Anti-Patterns to Avoid
Example
“Employee consistently arrives late. Instead of 'Maybe stop being so late' with sarcasm, say unemotionally: 'We agreed you'd be here at 8. You weren't. I don't like that. Can you please be here at 8 tomorrow?'”