One of the things that influences my life is the fear of failure and of criticism. On a rational level, I know that constructive criticism can often be more helpful than unconditional support. And yet there are still times where I become paralysed by the thought, thereby leaving things unsaid or undone.

By all accounts, Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915) was not afraid of criticism himself. He was a school-teacher, printer, editor and lecturer, as well as an ardent believer in rugged individualism.

He founded an artist colony in East Aurora, New York and established the Roycroft Press for printing fine works. At it's peak, there were over 500 people working within the community. He was also the editor of the monthly publishing magazines The Fra and The Philistine and authored the inspirational pamphlet A Message to Garcia.

Hubbard died, along with his wife Alice, while travelling to England for a lecture tour on the Lusitania when it was sunk by a German submarine in the Irish Sea.