Handling feedback

I used to think I was good at taking feedback—until I started designing a board game.

Being a board game designer is one of the most humbling professions there is.

My business partner and I came in thinking we could create a fully playable game in six months. Three years later, we’re finally close to launch.

Why did it take so long?

Because every time we thought we had something solid, we had to sit through playtests*.* And playtests are brutal.

People don't sugarcoat their opinions. They point out every flaw in the mechanics, tell you which parts feel clunky, and sometimes even suggest that you should change the core of your game.

It’s painful sitting next to a table of people playing your game and hearing them say “this is stupid, it doesn’t make sense.”

At first, I took it personally. It felt like they were tearing apart our hard work. But over time, I realised something:

• Every piece of feedback was a gift. It gave us insights we couldn’t see on our own.

• If multiple people pointed out the same issue, it meant there was definitely a problem.

• The best designers aren’t the ones with the best original ideas—they’re the ones willing to throw out ideas that don’t work and refine what does.

This was a huge lesson for me. Whether in work, relationships, or creative projects, we all struggle with receiving criticism. But the way we respond determines our success.

How well do you take feedback?

Today’s Prompts

1 - How do you usually react when receiving criticism?

2 - Do you ask for feedback often enough? How can I make people feel comfortable giving me honest feedback?

I’d love your feedback

What was your favourite prompt of the day? Is there any specific challenge you want prompts for? How can I improve the content of the newsletter? Reply this mail and let me know!