I Used to Think Criticism Was Helping—Now I See Why People Avoided Me

Why do people pull away when all you're trying to do is help? In this video, Building Success breaks down the hidden reason criticism ruins relationships — inspired by Chapter 1 of How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie. You’ll learn why pointing out flaws — even with good intentions — often backfires, and how a small shift in how you communicate can change everything.

If you've ever felt misunderstood, frustrated, or confused about why people don’t respond the way you expect, this video is for you. Whether you're trying to improve your relationships, lead a team, build a business, or grow your personal influence, understanding the psychology of criticism, emotional intelligence, and human behavior is critical to your success.

This episode dives deep into why criticism, complaining, and condemning often lead to resistance instead of results — and how to stop sabotaging your own connections without realizing it. Based on timeless advice from Dale Carnegie and backed by modern psychology, you'll walk away with practical tools to become more influential, more respected, and more trusted in every part of life.

👀 What You’ll Learn:
Why criticizing others doesn’t change them (and what actually does)
The real reason people get defensive and shut down
How to give feedback without ruining relationships
How to communicate like a leader, not a critic
The powerful mindset shift that helped me rebuild trust

This isn’t just another motivational video — it’s a brutally honest look at how the words we use shape the results we get. If you want better relationships, stronger leadership, and long-term personal growth, this message will challenge you in all the right ways.

🎯 Who This Video is For:
Entrepreneurs who struggle to lead teams effectively
Professionals who feel ignored or misunderstood
Anyone trying to improve communication with family, friends, or coworkers
People stuck in conflict cycles and looking for better strategies
Students of personal development, self-improvement, and emotional mastery

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Timecodes:
0:00 Introduction
0:53 Francis "Two Gun" Crowley
1:37 Abraham Lincoln
2:16 Ever been told you’re wrong in front of other people?
3:07 Stop leading with blame
4:34 Charles Schwab
6:17 The top predictor of divorce
8:09 Wrap-up
8:45 Q&A
8:48 Q1: But what if someone deserves to be criticized? Isn’t it wrong to let bad behavior slide?
9:15 Q2: How do I deal with people who always complain or criticize me?
9:37 Q3: Isn’t positive feedback just sugarcoating? What if the person doesn’t take me seriously?
9:59 Q4: How do I stop myself from criticizing when it feels automatic?
10:19 Q5: Does this apply to parenting too? Kids need discipline, right?
10:45 Conclusion
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Francis Crowley photo credit: By Unknown - https://robertwalshwriter.files.wordp..., Fair use, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?...

B.F. Skinner photo credit: By Silly rabbit - self-made (by User:Silly rabbit). Updated in the Gimp by User:Michaelrayw2., CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index...

Keywords:
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