Having hates is an inevitable part of any bold journey – everyone who has made a difference in the world has had doubters and critics. As natural as haters might be, in the age of social media it’s become harder and hard to ignore them – and so we asked some brilliant creatives and entrepreneurs to tell us how they deal with haters.

Kelsey Holloway

Despite the negativity, I have a story to tell. The ending for me is way bigger than the now. Having a daughter with autism is far beyond more challenging than anything anyone could ever say to me, about me or could ever imagine. I’ve learned to block out the negativity, understand mistakes will happen but most importantly keep going. I can’t expect everyone to understand my situation and I don’t want sympathy, learning from experiences. Read more>>

Yerrty G

I’ve always been a confident person, even as a child. Therefore I believe that nothing stands in my way except for myself. As far as any one that isn’t a believer, that’s between them & the most high. Almost every time if a person is a true hater of you it’s because you’ve surpassed them & spewing negativity about you is a coping mechanism for them. I’m also too busy enjoying being an amazing father & touring the world that I’ll never acknowledge it because it doesn’t serve me or take me to the next level. Read more>>

Chris Courtney Martin

Anyone who is a fan of rap music knows that haters and nay-sayers are the fuel that keeps your train chugging along. I’ve spent the last few years shaking loose toxicity from people around me who were ready to benefit from my uniqueness but also held envy and resentment for it that might have hurt me even more deeply if they hadn’t been made to show themselves when they did. This led to some really trying events in my life. But my specialness proved itself in spades. I was able to connect with people in the industry who understand the many ways that giftedness manifests. Read more>>

Monica Lara

It requires a good dose of either naivete or stubborn resolution. When I decided to go to college and continue until I obtained my PhD there were a number of people who didn’t really believe I would persist. When I learned to dive I was the smallest girl in the class and the only female to get certified from that course. This was back when it was really challenging and mostly men attempted it and many failed. When I was certified as a cave diver, a really difficult challenge, I stuck to it until I became a Full Cave Diver, the highest level attainable. Read more>>

Caleb Pearson

I have a couple ways I like to persist against the naysayers so to speak. Firstly, if I know these people in real life, I don’t talk about my creative work with them. You have to meet people where they are. Most of it, in real life, to me, isn’t personal. People just don’t care about it. If they say something negative or condescending, I take it in, process it, and let it go. It’s fine. I can’t control other people’s opinions on my wants to make it in something creative, I can only try to better myself. So, I try to see it from their perspective, and not get personally attached to their dismissal of it. Read more>>

Christal Floyd

Divine Libations, LLC isn’t your typical Atlanta winery. We’re a small-batch operation, carving our own path in a city known for peaches, not pinot noir. Naturally, we’ve faced challenges. Starting any business is tough, but bucking expectations in a traditional landscape adds a whole new layer. My father, himself a winemaking veteran, initially expressed concern. Launching a winery in Atlanta might have seemed like a quixotic quest. However, I knew, deep down, that this wasn’t just about grapes and fermentation. It was about a vision, a calling whispered by the universe. Read more>>

Jen Deeb

Ever since a young age, being creative was something I loved doing/being. Whether I was drawing, painting, dancing, singing, playing viola, I thrived when my creative juices were flowing. Knowing that, I always knew I wanted to do something creative with my career and life. Throughout high school, I took a lot of art related classes, with the intention of going into interior design in college.  Read more>>

Zeek Taylor

Although I have a loyal and large support system, there have been haters and naysayers who have been critical and begrudge any success that has come my way. I believe that negative reactions toward me often stem from “sour grapes,” a term often used to define jealousy. What those that have been against me do not know, is that they have aided me in advancing my career as an artist and as an author. In response to them and rather than being discouraged or upset by their negativity, I take on an “I’ll show you” attitude and strive to be even better. Ironically, I guess I should thank them for making me better. Read more>>

Alanna Washington

Everyone on this earth has a hater, unfortunately it’s just in human nature for some people to be like that. I always try to remind myself that for every hater there’s 100+ people that love you. It’s not about proving to them what your capabilities are. It’s about proving to yourself that you’re more than what they say. It’s all about mindset. You have to know who you are as a person and remember that through and through, the only perception that really matters is your own! Read more>>

Pearls Daily

I grew up in a small town that did not have any opportunities in the arts that I dreamed of. When I shared my dream of moving to NYC to become an actor a common question I would get was “What happens if it doesn’t work out” to which I would immediately respond “But what if it does?”. I could not afford holding onto anyone’s doubts! I persist and persevere because I love performing so much. I also take time to think back on the hard moments, and it always makes me thankful for where I have been and hopeful for where I am going. Read more>>

Metta Mane

It’s cliché, but you don’t start to get haters until you’re reaching some level of success. I used to think having haters and naysayers was the end of the world because as an artist, we want to be accepted and loved for what we do but then I realized if there’s people who don’t even like my stuff hearing it, then it’s expanding and reaching a new audience, which is all we can ask for. Read more>>

Petrona Joseph

As a highly sensitive person, I am acutely aware of how others perceive me. My upbringing in a dysfunctional home conditioned me to expect negative feedback and criticism, which made me hypervigilant. As a child, I lacked the emotional tools to cope with phrases like “you will not amount to anything” or “you ain’t nothing”. However, at the age of 23, something clicked for me. Read more>>