How to Be Your Own Harshest Critic

How to Be Your Own Harshest Critic 

If you’re building a brand, writing a book, launching a product, or sharing any kind of idea with the world, never forget: your audience has other options. Lots of them. 

That’s why one of my favorite exercises in brand strategy is learning to be your own harshest critic. 

Let’s say you’re about to publish a self-help book. Before you spend time perfecting your pitch or designing the cover, ask yourself: 

What else might someone choose instead of my book? 

• Another self-help book 

• A popular podcast 

• A YouTube series 

• Therapy or coaching 

• A Masterclass 

• Doing absolutely nothing 

Yep – even inaction is a competitor. 

Asking yourself this uncovers the real-world frame of reference your offering will be placed in. It helps you stop thinking of your idea in isolation and instead see it through the eyes of someone who’s trying to solve a problem and weighing their options. 

Next, ask yourself: 

How is my offering similar or different from these alternatives? 

• What does it do better? 

• Where does it fall short? 

• How does it make people feel a way that nothing else can? 

By identifying both the overlap and the gap, you’ll gain clarity on how to position your offering quickly and how to communicate what sets it apart. 

The key to standing out isn’t pretending your competition doesn’t exist. 
It’s knowing exactly why you’re the better choice – and helping others see it too.