Most people think feedback sounds like criticism. A boss scolding you for missing a deadline. A spouse whispering "don't talk about politics" at a dinner party. A teacher saying you could do better. So when feedback shows up, they either ignore it or let it bruise their ego. They miss the bigger picture: feedback isn't an attack on who you are—it's a strategic tool to help you get where you want to go.

You can't fix what you don't measure. And if you're serious about growth, you need someone else's perspective to see what you're missing.

Throughout my life, both as a person with a disability and as an entrepreneur, I've always valued feedback. I've engaged in high-end coaching and consistently asked for input. I also made it a point to thank people who helped me clarify my thinking. Here's why: at the core of my business is content creation and writing, but that's only a fraction of the skills I need to become successful. The other skills? I have to find ways to tap into other people's feedback to gain clarity about what to do, why to do it, and how to do it. Without that clarity and valuable feedback, I become stuck—or worse, I never start.

Think about it: athletes have coaches. Business executives have advisors. Almost anyone can use feedback to accomplish what they want. Feedback is simply having someone strategically look at what you've done in the past or what you're currently doing, then give you advice on how to improve. A shooting coach might tell a basketball player to bend their knees more or have better follow-through. A business consultant might help an executive refine their communication style. There are countless areas of your life where a little feedback can make a massive difference.

The problem is, most people view feedback as an attack on their character. They're too insecure to invite it into their lives and use it to their strategic advantage. But here's the truth: no one person has all the answers to grow a company, write amazing workout routines, cook a gourmet meal, or accomplish any goal worth pursuing.

That's where the mindset shift comes in. First, you have to accept that feedback isn't always criticism—it's a powerful tool to improve any situation. Second, you need to understand where you are and where you want to go. You have to be willing to grow and be challenged. More importantly, you have to be willing to invite people into your circle who will help you improve, rather than pushing feedback away and seeing it as nothing more than an attack.

Although feedback is sometimes unsolicited—people love lining up to tell you what you did wrong—the best way to use feedback is to actively invite it into your life. The simplest approach is asking someone to help you look at what you're doing. At the other end of the spectrum, you can hire a coach, consultant, or trainer and make the process formal. When others give you feedback, it's important to have a positive reaction. Don't be combative. Thank them for helping you improve your thinking.

All this takes an open mindset. You must believe there's more to learn. You must accept that others know something you don't, and you need a way to tap into their insights. You must recognize that feedback isn't always an attack but a strategic tool to help you achieve your goals more efficiently.

Asking for feedback and accepting it in your life can be one of the most valuable actions you can take. It can take you from one level to the next. It can move you from stuck to confident. It can even open up possibilities you didn't know existed. Everybody is just a few mindset shifts away from a new level of success. Feedback, done strategically, is one of those shifts.