Mark McGuinness recently explained why your inner critic is your best friend, but I have a different take on it.

Your inner critic is your most reliable guide of what not to do.

So when that voice in your head says you’ve not got the right tools, use even less. When it thinks you’ve gone too far, go further. And when it tells you it’s not good enough, finish it anyway.

Go wherever you feel the most resistance, because this is where the magic happens.

Because if you’re anything like me, your inner critic is a very nasty piece of work. It will say anything and everything to stop you from doing what you were born to do.

It wants to feel safe. It wants you to be scared. It wants you to stop.

So trust your natural critical faculties. They’ll remain intact even when you’re flying in the face of your inner critic.

In this brave new connected world, the winners are those who are unique. And trust me, your inner critic wants you to do anything but stand out.