Help keep me accountable to focusing on the positives!

This past week, I started sharing Prismatext with strangers on the internet. It was no marketing blitz, but I posted in a couple of subreddits and had a very small ad campaign on Facebook (<$10/day, if anyone's curious).

For the most part, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. From a purely fiscal point of view, I've made a few dozen sales. And from a social one, too, I've been getting encouragement and enthusiasm across social media, my contact form, here on IH, and reconnecting with old friends who are intrigued by the project.

But MAN. Those few voices of dissent and disdain really put a damper on things. Like a tiny cloud in the sky blotting out the sun on a clear day, I felt the lightness of the little wins obscured by a persistent nagging that nothing was right under the surface, that these early successes would come crashing down, and that I'd be exposed as a charlatan or fraud, despite trying my very best to be genuine, truthful, and authentic.

It's weird how much influence these voices of negativity have over us. They shouldn't!

I'm going to try to be better. Starting today, I'm going to make a list of all of the feedback I collect from users and categorize it by "positive" and "negative." And "negative" things will be categorized further by how valid the criticism is, my ability to take action on it, and caliber of the person making the comment (i.e., are they a known troll?).

For all of you out there struggling with negative feedback, let's continue to be encouraged by the positives, and maintain an objective view of the negatives. We're building because we care and we're passionate, and it's easy to wound us when we hold something this close. Be aware of that vulnerability, and take action against it.