In his book On the Road, the comedian Frank Skinner describes his experience of going back on the road doing stand-up again, after many years spent working mainly on television. His adventures on tour are funny and moving as he meditates on growing older, the terrors and joys of trying to make a live audience laugh night after night, and on the nature of comedy itself.
What struck me though, was the personal angst Frank felt whenever he received feedback with even a subtle hint of criticism even if, by and large, his performance had been received rapturously by the vast majority.
To be honest, as a speaker, I’ve had those same feelings myself…ninety nine people said it was great, one says it wasn’t, and whats my abiding memory? You’ve guessed it…the one!
I take comfort, and I hope Frank does, from the words of Tim Ferriss, author of The Four Hour Week…
” It doesn’t matter how many people don’t get it. What matters is how many people do!”