This will piss you off but you must not react...

"You're putting it on the wrong foot, love!"

Aditi is seated on the floor putting on her shoes. She made it very clear that she didn't want my help.

I tried telling her a couple times, but,

"No, appah. It's Aditi's turn!"

After a couple minutes, she stood up and walked around awkwardly not knowing why her once comfy shoes felt "not good".

How does this apply to marketing?

I've written about this before - when it comes to marketing, everyone and his mother are experts.

When you present an idea, be it a concept, design, or piece of copy, chances are the boss man, and his cronies won't let you finish.

They won't listen to reason.

Leaning back. Chest puffed out. With the confidence of Ali in his prime...

They will have something to say.

Usually, it won't make any sense.

Or it's something so trivial it's obvious they said it to feel good.

Or to drop a new buzzword they learned.

Some also think that if it wasn't for their two cents, the idea would've fallen flat.

At such moments, it's natural to feel like this:

There are THREE ways around this:

• Option 1: Turn it into a collaborative effort. Make a couple of the easiest changes and move forward. This is the best way forward.
• Option 2: Do it their way. You will lose credibility and have set the stage for others to crap on your work in future too.
• Option 3: If you're a freelance or an agency, tell the client to STFU and remind them that you are the expert and that they're paying you for a reason. Unfortunately, if you are an employee, this route is NOT advisable.

Tread carefully.