This completely goes against another view I have which says that when you are convinced and passionate about something, you should pursue it wholeheartedly without listening to the naysayers. Having said that, I always believe in balance in life – as a rule, a few people should agree that you haven’t completely lost your mind.
What I am talking about is your tribe. Those you are leading or doing life with. A sign you are the kind of leader, friend, and peer that builds them up, encourages them, and adds value to their life is that they speak well of you, not to you, but to others. When people get to the place where they actually verbalize appreciation for what you bring to their life, it shows that it is working. You are working, you are “bearing fruit.”