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Joanna Campbell Slan

Thanks for visiting the official website for New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author and Winner of the Daphne du Maurier Award of Excellence, Joanna Campbell Slan.

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Taking Criticism (Kate, Are You There?)

March 31, 2010 by Joanna Slan


I never, ever wanted to watch Dancing with the Stars (DWTS), but now I’m hooked. My reason for not wanting to be a viewer is simple: I love to dance. Therefore, watching other people having a good time is like…torture. I spend every minute wishing I was dancing along!(Check out the dancing scene in Cut, Crop & Die. I had to tone it down some, but that’s me, bay-bee.)

Lately, I’ve been watching DWTS and thinking about criticism. It’s always hard to take, isn’t it? But I’ve noticed that the stars and participants who can’t take it are usually the ones who don’t make it to the final round. Makes sense.

Now I’m going to get snarky. Can you believe the way Kate Gosselin is acting? I shudder when I see people roll their eyes at the panel of dance experts. I mean, I don’t care how snippy Bruno gets or how tough Len is. They do know what they’re talking about.

But Bruno and Len and Carrie Ann are just part of the crew. The hardest working folks in the show, in my humble opinion, are the professional dancers. I mean, dancers have the lifespan of a gnat. It’s just so incredibly hard on your body. These kids turn up, step up, and dance it up every week. So, spouting off to a dancing pro and telling him he doesn’t know how to teach is just wrong. But that’s exactly what Kate did. In the UK, they call that “cheeky.” To be that rude, takes…well…it takes something. If Kate’s goal is to show her kids how to act, gee, I hope the show airs after their bedtime. Especially if reports are true that she’s also being a real pill by showing up late on the show. Whoa-doggies. Personally, I’m getting a bit weary of hearing Kate pull the “I’m just a mom trying to survive” card. I see a lot of moms trying to survive, and golly, their lives don’t look at all like Kate’s.

It’s tough to take criticism. I know. I stomp around the house after it comes my way. But notice, that’s my house. We don’t have cameras rolling here.

Right now I’m working on a new idea. I keep showing it to my husband. He keeps telling me how I can improve it. I HATE his help. Hate it. But he’s usually right and I remind myself that if I can put my ego aside and listen, my work and I will both be better for it.

Here’s the deal: If you’re going to live a public life, you better grow tough skin and a poker face. At the very least, keep your mouth shut when people give you good advice. Oh, and if you want proof that sneering is not a good idea, here’s a tip–anytime you can put “sneering” and “your name” together and get google hits, honey, it’s time to clean up your act. Even if Bruno did just compare you to a shopping cart!

Besides, didn’t anyone ever tell Kate her face could freeze that way?

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: Bruno, criticism, Cut Crop and Die, Dancing with the Stars, Kate Gosselin, Len

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    April 1, 2010 at 1:52 am

    I prayed hard last night that Kate would be voted off…obviously didn't get my wish!! I used to watch J&K+8 and liked the kids (excepts Mady who I think is the dead spit of spoiled Kate…)and now we see how "stardom" has gone straight to Kate's head. Even if half what is being said on the websites, etc. is true, it's too much. She should get off now before she really exposes her true nature. xxKaren

  2. Joanna Campbell Slan says

    April 1, 2010 at 2:19 pm

    I think a lot of people are voting to keep her ON because they think this will be a hoot to watch. They might be right!

  3. Charmaine Clancy says

    April 4, 2010 at 9:23 am

    I've come to believe giving criticism is a skill that needs to be learnt. Great criticism can really help me push my writing to the next level. But you are absolutely right, you have to be open to it 🙂 not >:-[

  4. Joanna Campbell Slan says

    April 4, 2010 at 2:54 pm

    Charmaine, I love those symbols. Particularly the >:-[ What a hoot! You are right. It's all about being open to the criticism, isn't it? And of course, some people can give it in a way that makes it easier to accept.

  5. CMOM Productions says

    April 5, 2010 at 11:19 pm

    Watching Kate dance is slightly painful! I'm no Ginger Rogers, but I hope I would know enough to put a smile on my face and fake it. I'll take learning from criticism over looking like a complete fool any day!

  6. Joanna Campbell Slan says

    April 6, 2010 at 12:17 am

    CMOM, I know it has to hurt. And I can see crying…but rolling your eyes? As Captain Hook said in the movie "Hook," "Poor form, Jack, poor form!"

    I've noticed that no one who complains ever wins on that show. There must be a lesson there…somewhere!

  7. evision says

    April 15, 2010 at 4:50 am

    i have gone through this blog. i found it really interesting fot my job and my future career

    online business

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