For When Feedback Hurts: On Vulnerability, Frustration, and Staying the Course

What a tough mentorship call taught me about creating from the heart.

Ever felt like you're pouring your heart into something, only to be told it’s not good enough?

That was me after a recent mentorship call that left me feeling completely frustrated, exposed, and defeated.

When Feedback Feels Like Failure

Cande (my partner at Brand Partners) and I had signed up for this mentorship with excitement. During the call, we completed the exercise they requested, got feedback, and had some of our ideas challenged, which is exactly what we paid for.

And yet, I left feeling crushed.

The mentor asked tough questions, and many of them left us speechless. It was like being called on for an oral exam in school when you haven’t studied. No way to improvise your way out.

Cande and me in Amsterdam

The Weight of Vulnerability

When you build something from scratch, it’s not just work, it’s a piece of you. You pour your heart into it, and with that comes a kind of love and care that’s hard to feel when something isn’t yours. When it is yours, it feels like an extension of your body.

And exposing that can feel deeply vulnerable.

That’s when the frustration creeps in, for not having done enough, for not doing it “right,” for not living up to the moment. You start to question everything, even yourself.

Creating Is Personal

Creating something new means putting yourself out there to be seen (and judged) by people who don’t know you. That’s part of the deal. We all see the world through our own lens. So we all judge, consciously or not.

It’s part of being human.
It’s also really hard.

Entrepreneurship demands that we get comfortable with discomfort. That we stay present in our own vulnerability. Because others won’t see us the way we see ourselves. What feels powerful to us may not land the same way with someone else.

And yes, that’s frustrating.

Staying the Course

What matters most is being clear on why you're doing this and not letting temporary discouragement steer you off track.

Just like we can’t expect to be liked by everyone, we also can’t expect our project, business, or creation to resonate with everyone.

And that’s okay.

A Tiny Practice That Helps

Here’s something that grounds me: Write your purpose somewhere visible.

On your bathroom mirror. As your phone background. On a Post-it by your front door.

Put it where you’ll see it often, especially on the hard days.

So that when the frustration comes (because it will), you remember what you're really building. And why it matters.