Jean-Michael Lourdis was a promising young pianist. He would play and it seemed like the Angels sang. He was young and there times when he played, it seemed to him, as if his hands were iron. He worried so much about his playing that he became over sensitive to the reviews of his playing. Unfortunately, in those days, a critic was not considered a critic, unless he found something wrong. This attitude of the critics would often leave the young man ready to give up his dream and return home.

He was invited to play in Helsinki. The rich, the famous, the leaders of State were all there. Jean-Michael had one of those days where everything went wrong. That night as he played, he felt as if it were the worst concert of his young life. The next day, in the newspapers, some of the reviews were less than complimentary. The young musician was crushed.

That day, as he sat in his hotel room, waiting for the concert that night, he was in total despair. There came a knocking at his door. He had a visitor. The famous Finnish composer Jean Sibelius had come by to congratulate the young pianist for his performance. Jean-Michael asked how he could think that and began to quote some of the newspaper critics. "Hands of iron.. No imagination.. Some skill, no joy.. Don't you hear what they say?", He asked.

Jean Sibelius looked at young Jean-Michael and said, "Remember, son, there is no city in the world where they have erected a statue to a critic."

Don't Worry About The Critics.

Anybody can criticize. Anybody can tear down. We live in a negative world. People are trained to look for what is wrong not for what is right. We have a society of critics. So if you do anything.. There is going to be someone to tell you what you did wrong. The sad thing is that the very people who criticize never do anything themselves. So go on.. Do great things.. and don't worry about the critics. Look at this way.. at least, their mumblings give them something to do.

So keep doing what you are doing.. and remember.. no one has ever erected a statue to a critic!