43 Comments
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Stephanie Pollock's avatar

Years ago, I wrote a post and sent it to my list. Within a few minutes a woman responded to tell me that it was “the kind of garbage she didn’t have time for.” I was sitting at a coffee shop when her message came in and my face went red and my stomach lurched and I was sure everyone was looking at me. It was brutal.

Months later, a friend sent me a text with a picture of her friend (a woman I did not know)’s fridge. On it was piece of paper held up by a magnet. When I zoomed in, I realized it was a copy of that same ‘garbage’ post. She had printed it and put it up on her fridge because it had helped her and she wanted to regularly remind herself of my words.

Somebody’s garbage is another person’s fridge inspiration. 😊

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

I love this story!! Thank you for sharing. You're absolutely right - what resonates with one person will trigger another, but we can't worry about it too much otherwise we'd never put anything out there.

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Tanya Mimi's avatar

I love it, that's life :)

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Sonia's avatar

So true, Anna. I love Brene Brown on this - if you're not in the arena, I have no interest in your opinion... (I've quite possibly butchered that in the paraphrasing, but you know what I mean.) Thanks, as always, for sharing the bad as well as the good!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Absolutely love that quote from Brene!

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Emma Murphy's avatar

You have an incredible knack for sharing perfect reminders just when I need them most. For every one judgemental voice, there are so many others who feel seen and uplifted by your writing (myself included!). I've been reflecting a lot lately on how much weight I give to other people’s opinions and how we've been conditioned to value them over our own. It’s such a shame to let others, like faceless strangers online, hold us back from trying! You’re absolutely right; we’re so much stronger than we ever give ourselves credit for.

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

❤️

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Jen Phillips April's avatar

Boo on negative people. Who asked them? Your writing always inspires me and reminds me I’m not insane for choosing a different path than most. Cheers to you!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Thank you 🙏🏼🥰. And no one asked them!! Haha

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Holly Patience's avatar

OMG! You're AMAZING! AMAZING! First of all, I love the bellicose picture you posted of a beautiful woman ready for a FIGHT. Secondly, you should never be punished for authenticity. And thirdly, you are a colossal STAR for allowing this jerk's opinion to Galvanize You!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Thank you lovely!! And that picture represents me right now. I'M READY TO FIGHT 😂

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Aliona's avatar

Unfortunately, that's part of putting yourself out there. You will face criticism. I find it amusing that the person who sent you this was subscribed to you and took their time. If you really don't care, then don't subscribe. It's that easy!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

I know right!! It's that easy.

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Jules Fedele's avatar

Thanks for sharing this, Anna. I have been called out a few times for my 'millennial pause' on tiktok and then have people provide unsolicited advice on why my videos are shit. Sometimes it can feel like a punch to the gut but then I remember all MY people who value my work and are excited for me to share my insights.

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

I had to Google what millennial pause is! Lol I think I do that too.

Fuck the haters!! At least we know we're doing good work and we're coming from a place of integrity. ❤️

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Sara's avatar

Literally, A LOT of people care and find your content invaluable. So yes, keep going! 👏

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Thanks Sara ❤️

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Margaret Khursigara's avatar

No matter who you are or what you do or how good you are at that thing, there will always be people who are haters and feel the need to share that. (And anonymously - how courageous 🙄!!) Remember that it says everything about them and is not about you. That person is not your tribe. They don't 'get' you and that's ok. Wave 'em bye bye!!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

CIAO!

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Gajendra Kumar's avatar

Hello

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Sam Vander Wielen's avatar

I’m so sorry this happened. I get these every once in a while, and it stings every time. They’re usually shocked when a real human replies — I’ve heard from more than one person that they were just having a bad day and thought they were taking it out on “the internet”. I guess I’d rather have those replies than all the people who have copied my work lol (if we were playing online business roulette).

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Thank you. It sucks doesn’t it! I had the triple whammy this month - haters sending mean messages like this, someone impersonating me on Tiktok, and people copying and taking credit for my work!! What a time 😬

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Sam Vander Wielen's avatar

what a time to be alive on the internet! I'm sorry - that majorly sucks

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

It does but it's all good!! You have to take the good with the bad. Thank you ❤️

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Tanya Mimi's avatar

Anna, I thank you for your service to humanity. All this work & free of charge :)

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

❤️

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Gajendra Kumar's avatar

Hello

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Harper Miller's avatar

Thank you for the reminder!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Always ❤️

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Courtney Bowers's avatar

The irony of them showing how much they cared by taking the time to respond so flippantly...the internet continues to astound

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

I know 😂

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SJ Fallick's avatar

You know what's funny...I LOVED that post. I found it so helpful to hear how you managed your time and energy and even saved the screenshot of your calendar. I had been meaning to go back and comment to let you know but instead I'll say here that I really cared...LITERALLY AT LEAST ONE PERSON CARES!

Thank you for this week's piece - I really needed to hear this reminder and have shared your chat with a few founders I know who are dealing with that rite of passage currently.

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

Thanks SJ, we're all going through it in one way or another! Thanks for sharing it with your founder friends too, hopefully it helps ❤️

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Alana Villemez's avatar

We aren't the right fit for everyone. That's what tells you... your positioning works! As someone who devours everything you post and your comment section, you're finding your right fits!!!

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Anna Mackenzie's avatar

I feel this! Someone said to me that any good writing is polarising, particularly when you are standing for something. People will either love it or hate, which is much better than people being apathetic. So I'm taking this trolling as a win! 😂

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Alana Villemez's avatar

Now that's reframing 🤙👏

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