Fuel

Everything in life that moves forward needs fuel. Cars need gasoline. Rockets need propellant. UAP's need Quantum Vacuum Energy 🤓, People need something that keeps them going when the road gets rough.
Criticism is one of the most abundant energy sources on the planet. It’s everywhere... bosses, comments sections, family dinners, your own head at 2 a.m. Most people experience it as pain. A rare few experience it as power.
The difference isn’t the criticism. It’s what you do with it.
The Two Kinds of Fuel People Run OnPositive people tend to run on high-quality, renewable fuel:

• Gratitude – keeps the system light and efficient.
• A growth mindset – converts obstacles into forward motion instead of damage.
• Internal motivation – a self-replenishing tank that doesn’t depend on outside conditions.

Negative people run on heavier, corrosive blends:

• Feelings of inadequacy – creates explosive bursts of effort followed by burnout.
• External validation – performance jumps when people are watching, drops when they’re not.
  • Every social media post we like and comment on fuels the creator to keep going and do more.
• Perceived lack of control – turns into resentment that can push someone hard, but at a brutal long-term cost.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: both engines can hit 200 mph. One feels like freedom. The other feels like you’re fleeing a fire.How to Turn Any Criticism into Clean Fuel

1. Adopt a growth mindset.
   1.  Fixed mindset: “This criticism means I’m bad.” 
   2. Growth mindset: “This criticism means I haven’t mastered this yet.”
2. Pause and reflect When the sting hits, wait until the emotion drops from a 9 to a 3. Then ask: “What’s the 5% of this that might be useful?”
3. Filter aggressively. Not all feedback deserves tank space. Keep the part that can make you better; dump the personal attacks and noise.
4. Choose your suppliers wisely.  Build a small circle of people whose opinions you trust. Their fuel is high-octane and clean.
5. Learn to run on hate when necessary. Even unfair, vicious criticism can forge resilience and razor-sharp focus. Use it sparingly, like nitromethane in a drag racer.

The Bottom Line...The world isn’t going to run out of criticism anytime soon. You will be handed sparks every single day. You get to decide whether those sparks start a house fire or light the afterburner that sends you past everyone who’s still complaining about the heat. Criticism, praise, silence, jealousy, doubt; none of it is good or bad on its own. It’s just fuel.
Build a better engine. And go.

​​- Kevin and Amelia Schwers are business owners in Ankeny, Iowa, focused on long-term business growth and community impact.