At age 16, I found my first customer as a freelance graphic designer. One day at the local gym, I vocally criticized the poster for an arm wrestling event while unwittingly standing next to its promoter. I had no idea who he was, much less that it was his event.
A week later my poster replaced the original one, and the promoter, now happier, remained my client for another 5 years. I hadn’t anticipated that being openly critical could create opportunity …providing you can truly deliver a better solution. Today, of course I understand this is to be done constructively.