This week, Kim Kardashian’s new legal drama, All’s Fair — was slammed by critics, panned by viewers, and memed into oblivion just days after launch.

That shared cringe when someone we “know” — even through a screen — stumbles publicly.

It’s not the bad reviews that make us uncomfortable. It’s what they reveal we’re afraid of in ourselves.

We’re wired to equate bad reviews with total failure:

• “People didn’t like it. That means I’m not good enough.”
• “If I try and don’t get love on the first round — I’m done.”
• “One flop means the end of my authority, credibility, trust.”

Except… in Kim’s case, let’s take a look at her full story.

Bad review or not:

• She built a billion-dollar brand (SKIMS).
• She’s expanded into law, advocacy, and social impact.
• She’s producing, acting, building empires, raising four kids — and trying something new on primetime TV.

Is the show great? It may not be given a high rating by the critics, but I’ve seen many people comment that they are enjoying it. It may not be right for you but…well you get it right?

Will this kill her career? Absolutely not.

Kim may not be the best actress but she has put herself out there and is acting and by extension taking action in very real ways.

She moves.
Tries.
Pivots.
Experiments.
Gets laughed at.
Goes again.

That’s the muscle most business owners never build. Not because of a lack of talent or resources — but because of one silent killer:

The need to be perfectly received.

That is what will kill your business.

• Not bad reviews.
• Not criticism.
• Not a failed launch.

But your refusal to be seen as less than flawless.

It’s the fear that freezes real growth.

You can survive a flop. You won’t survive never taking the shot.

And that’s the real difference: Most people will protect their image to the grave. While the ones we talk about — yes, even the polarizing ones — are the ones who keep showing up in new arenas, even when the crowd is not clapping.

So here’s the question for us (yes, me included):

What are you avoiding right now because you’re afraid the world won’t cheer and where have you let the fear of bad reviews stall what could’ve been your next expansion?

Because in business — as in life — it’s not perfection that builds legacy. It’s action. It’s the willingness to be seen trying. It’s the boldness to risk being misunderstood — in service of something only you can build.

Just like Kim, we don’t have to get it all right. We just have to believe it’s worth doing — even when the critics disagree.

Strategic Reflection Prompt

Where in your business or creative life are you waiting for the guarantee of applause before you act? What’s the one move you’ve been scared to make because you’re afraid of judgment — and what could shift if you did it anyway?

About Giselle

I’m Giselle Hudson — Organization & People Development Sensemaker™, MCODE® Legacy Coach, writer and musician. I help leaders and independent professionals close the gap between strategy and execution by making invisible friction visible, so direction can finally translate into results.

If execution isn’t matching intent and you can’t quite see why, message me on WhatsApp. We’ll start with a brief Clarity Conversation to understand what you’re facing and decide together whether a focused Sensemaking Session is the right next step.