Honest self-assessment is uncomfortable. It's also a competitive advantage.

Honest self-assessment is uncomfortable. It's also a competitive advantage.
My daughter led a masterclass on the topic this weekend.

"The cake wasn't good."
That was my daughter's review of the cake she baked for her own 10th birthday. A painful conclusion, considering she made it from scratch.

I heard at least 15 people compliment her on the cake, so I pushed back. But she wasn't convinced.

"The icing was too sweet. The cake didn't have enough flavor. And there was a lot left on people's plates."

She wasn't complaining or beating herself up.
She was making observations.
And she was right.

And if she keeps paying attention to what people do instead of what they say, there are no limits to how much she can improve.

That lesson applies beyond baking.

PS. My favorite part wasn't her critique. It was her attitude. She recognized the cake wasn't her best work... then went back to having fun with her friends.

Embrace the discomfort, but don't let it crash the party.