"The more famous you become, the less people will tell you about your faults"

As you become more well-known, fewer people will point out your mistakes. This idea is pretty straightforward. When you're famous, people tend to shy away from giving you honest feedback. They keep quiet about your flaws, either because they don't want to offend you or because they're worried about how you might react.

Think about celebrities and high-profile figures. When they reach a certain level of fame, they're often surrounded by yes-men—people who just agree with everything they say and do. These yes-men might be friends, family, or colleagues who are too afraid to speak up. This creates a bubble, making it hard for the famous person to get a reality check.

Let's look at a real-life example. Consider Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple. He was known for his vision and leadership. But he also had a reputation for being difficult to work with. As he became more successful, fewer people dared to challenge him, even when they thought he was wrong. This could have led to some poor decisions if not for a few brave souls who stood up and gave honest feedback.

So, how can you apply this wisdom to your own life? First, you need to actively seek out honest feedback. Don't just ask your closest friends—reach out to a variety of people who interact with you in different ways. Make it clear that you value their honesty. Encourage them to be blunt. Remember, constructive criticism is a gift, even if it stings a bit.

Second, create an environment where people feel safe to speak up. If you’re in a leadership role, make it part of your culture. Show gratitude when people give you tough feedback. It’s not easy for them, so appreciate the effort.

Alright, now let’s put this into a relatable scenario. Imagine you’re a manager at a growing startup. You’ve been with the company since its early days, and now you’re leading a team of 20. At first, your team was small, and everyone felt comfortable sharing their thoughts. But as the company grew, you noticed that fewer people were offering critical feedback. You felt like you were in a bit of an echo chamber.

One day, you make a big decision about a project. You think it’s the best move, but something feels off. You decide to have an open feedback session. You sit down with your team and say, “I really need your honest opinions. I might be missing something here, and I trust you all to tell me the truth.”

At first, there’s a bit of awkward silence. Then, one of your team members speaks up. “Actually, I have a few concerns about this direction.” Others start to chime in, and you realize there were some significant issues you hadn’t considered. Because you asked for honest feedback, you were able to pivot and make a better decision for the project.

You see, the key is to break down those walls that fame—or even just authority—can build. By fostering a culture of honesty and openness, you ensure that you’re not just surrounded by nodding heads. Instead, you have a team that feels empowered to speak up, helping you see your blind spots and grow both personally and professionally.

So, next time you feel like you’re not getting the full picture, take a step back. Ask for that honest feedback. It might be hard to hear, but it’s crucial for growth. After all, we all have our blind spots—and the more we know about them, the better we can become.