Let the Small Dogs Bark—You’ve Got Better Things to Do

“If a lion turned every time small dogs barked at it, it would be the laughing stock of the jungle.” — Matshona Dhliwayo

If you share your thoughts in public—online or offline—you will get feedback. Some of it will help you grow. Some of it will try to tear you down. Learning to tell the difference is everything.

Good criticism is gold. It makes you sharper, wiser, better. But here’s the thing—not all criticism is good. Some people just don’t like your face. Or your tone. Or your confidence. They’re not trying to improve the conversation. They’re trying to drag you into theirs.

Ignore them.

Especially in the online world, the noise never stops. Opinions fly 24/7. Trolling is easy. Nuance is rare. If you keep turning to answer every comment, you’ll spend your life doing nothing but reacting. That’s not power. That’s distraction.

So, be smart about it. Set a time. Maybe 30 minutes a day or twice a week. Go through your feedback with a clear mind. Skip the hate. Skip the sarcasm. If someone cared enough to explain their point with clarity, read it. Think. If there’s value, act on it.

But don’t feed the trolls. Don’t get stuck trying to win every debate. Some things are facts. Others are just opinions—yours, theirs, everyone’s.

You’re not here to bark back at every noise. You’ve got things to build, ideas to explore, a life to live.

So keep moving. Keep growing. And let the small dogs bark. That’s what they do.