Don't solicit feedback on your product, idea or your business

Host: The room was still, the soft hum of the city outside slipping through the window. A quiet evening lingered, as the twilight bathed the room in faded colors. Jack sat at the edge of the couch, his elbows resting on his knees, his eyes heavy with thought. Across from him, Jeeny stood by the window, her silhouette outlined against the darkening sky. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, the weight of their previous conversation still lingering.

Jeeny: (glancing over her shoulder) “What do you think, Jack? About what Sara Blakely said... that seeking validation from the wrong people can destroy your ideas before they even have a chance.”

Jack: (eyes narrowing) “It makes sense. People get so caught up in needing to hear that they’re doing the right thing, that they forget to listen to the ones who can actually help them. But you’re talking about ignoring feedback, aren’t you? That’s dangerous.”

Jeeny: (turning, her voice soft but firm) “It’s not about ignoring feedback. It’s about being selective. You can’t just go to the people who will pat you on the back for every idea, flaw or not. If you’re looking for validation, you might end up holding yourself back. There are people who can really help you grow your vision, but they won’t always tell you what you want to hear. And that’s the difference.”

Jack: (shrugging) “But everyone needs support, Jeeny. You’re not going to do this on your own. It’s not about just hearing the truth, it’s about building confidence in your ideas. Without someone backing you up, you might just give up before you even start.”

Jeeny: (turning to face him) “I’m not saying to go it alone. What I’m saying is that blind validation, especially from people who don’t know what it takes to build something, can be more harmful than helpful. Think about how many people fail because they only surround themselves with yes-men—people who tell them what they want to hear, but no one challenges them to push further, to improve.”

Host: The room felt charged now, the tension growing with each word. Jeeny’s hands were clasped in front of her, her stance firm, her conviction clear. Jack shifted in his seat, his jaw tense as he weighed her words.

Jack: (gruffly) “But isn’t that the whole point? If you believe in your idea, you should be able to rely on the people closest to you for that extra boost. No one’s going to take a chance on you if you’re not sure about it yourself.”

Jeeny: (shaking her head) “Confidence is one thing, but validation is something else. Confidence should come from within, not from someone else’s approval. The idea that a friend, spouse, or co-worker can make or break your business is dangerous. They’re not always going to be the best sounding board. And, more often than not, they’ll see your idea through their own limited lens.”

Jack: (leaning forward, voice sharp) “But without trust, without the reassurance of people who care about you, how can you take the leap into the unknown? How can you risk everything on an idea when you don’t even know if it’s going to work out?”

Jeeny: (eyes softening, her voice calm but intense) “You’re not supposed to take a leap of faith blindly. You ask for feedback from the right sources, not just those who will tell you it’s perfect. Sara Blakely didn’t build Spanx because she asked her friends if they liked the product. She knew what she wanted to create, and she found people who could challenge her, people who had the knowledge to help her improve.”

Host: The light in the room seemed to dim a little, but the words between them lingered like smoke in the air. Jack’s shoulders were tense, his thoughts racing. The concept of needing the right guidance was starting to sink in, but there was still that nervous edge, that fear of doing something without the comforting approval of those closest to him.

Jack: (quietly) “You think it’s just about surrounding yourself with the right people, then? But how do you know when you’re not just looking for an echo? How do you find those people?”

Jeeny: (with a soft smile) “You start by believing in yourself first, Jack. If you trust your vision, the right people will come along. They won’t validate you—they’ll challenge you, make you see your idea from angles you’d never thought of. They’ll push you to make it better, to make it real.”

Host: There was a stillness in the room now, the kind that only came after a storm of words had passed. The city’s hum was quieter now, almost as if the conversation had silenced everything outside. Jeeny stood there, her posture calm, her face a portrait of quiet conviction. Jack leaned back in his seat, his fingers tapping against his knee as he thought. The air between them wasn’t as tense anymore, but it still held a sense of change.

Jack: (after a long pause, with a soft exhale) “I get it. It’s about making the right connections, not just about having someone say, ‘Yeah, that sounds great.’ It’s about real feedback that pushes you forward, even if it stings sometimes.”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice softer now) “Exactly. Validation can be comforting, but it doesn’t always move you forward. You need the kind of feedback that forces you to grow, even when it’s uncomfortable.”

Host: The tension had broken, leaving behind an understanding, quiet but deep. The faint glow of the evening had dimmed into the soft, velvety night, but within the room, there was a quiet kind of light—a shift in perspective. Jack’s expression softened as he processed the weight of Jeeny’s words. The world outside continued on, but inside, the understanding was clear: in the pursuit of something great, sometimes, you don’t need validation. You need courage to stand on your own, and the wisdom to find the right voices to help you rise.