Brought a Portfolio to a Gun Fight

So in these past few weeks I have been getting anyone and everyone to look and comment on my portfolio. I have realized some interesting things and made some rules for myself to stay positive and stay productive.

Rule Number 1:
Don't take anything personal.
There are some harsh people out there who can say some harsh things about your book. And it hurts sometimes. That's your baby, they're slandering. But most of the time, it's truthful criticism. It probably is a hard pill to swallow, but you gotta do it. So keep your chin up and be ready.

Number 2:
Take everyone's comments to the bank, but don't deposit everything.
If you are given good honest feedback on your work. Take every word seriously and be genuine and thankful to person who gave it to you because you can buy a compliment but you can't buy honesty. There are a lot of subjective opinions in advertising, so someone may love a piece or campaign you did and another person may loathe it. You are the final decision maker when it comes to your work. Don't just blindly follow every comment and criticism.

Number 3:
Change your book!
There are tons of students out there that think once they're done with a campaign, they are done. This is the worst mentality anyone can have. The work should always be evolving. You can't just plant a bulb and expect it to grow, you gotta water it, mulch it and weed around it. And don't be afraid to go completely back to the drawing board. Although painful at first, it will put hair on your chest and prepare you for what really happens. It is also nice to show someone who gave you feedback, that you listened to them and took them seriously.

Now these 3 rules shouldn't be the end all be all of things to do, but they are my three cardinal rules. If anyone has another, I would love to hear it.