Almost everything that’s changed the world in a positive way has been an unreasonable idea. It’s unreasonable, until it’s commons sense. That’s how change happens and so in order to make a difference in the world, it’s incredibly important to be able to ignore the naysayers. Some of the best and brightest from our community share their stories and advice below.

Ness

I didn’t like who I was when I was trying to “fit in”. I loved seeing others cosplaying and expressing their own unique styles on various platforms. I really wanted to be as confident as all these other people that I was seeing. So I did the only thing that I could do: I stopped caring what other people thought and I made content about what I enjoyed. I started posting about clothes, music, cosplay and my theatre career. I love when I get a new idea and create something new. Read More>>

Paula Cajiao

“You’re not really crazy—it just hasn’t been done before.” This is the motto I live by. I chose a career in the arts, a field often filled with rejection. Sometimes people laugh at your ideas, and family members may encourage you to choose a different path. It’s not because they don’t believe in you, but because they understand how difficult it can be to make a living as an artist. Read More>>

Alejandra Villasante

I strongly believe that every day is a great day to learn something new.

Growing up in a small town, which also happens to be really conservative and respectful of the status quo, I had to face constant push-back due to my personality and ideas, during my first twenty years of life. Not only that, but I was also eventually forced to face the fact that I was behaving in this same manner towards others, acting much like a hater and nay-sayer. Read More>>

Angela Brown

I have a quote I often say for my haters, it is (MY ONLY REVENGE IS SUCCESS)! Nay-sayers will always be there to remind you that you just might fail at something especially if you are starting a business. There is something inside of me that won’t quit or give up! When the volume on their energy is loud then I tune them out and focus only on winning. I surround myself around positive people, stay in prayer and see myself at the finish line! Read More>>

Ray Lodovico

This question comes at a time when I’m starting to make real progress on social media, particularly on TikTok, as a basketball enthusiast and influencer. My audience is mostly kids, primarily in middle school, and many of them are great kids who actually help me get through the day. But no matter what, there will always be haters—of all ages and for a variety of mostly unknown reasons. Read More>>

Jack Hanson

What has been helpful for me, and what I recommend to others working to make change, is to focus on those who inspire you, those who you look up to, past and present.

Everyone who has ever done anything meaningful had tons of haters, nay-sayers, etc. Many of the most impactful changemakers in history were literally killed for standing up boldly for what they believed in. Use their stories, leadership, integrity, commitment, compassion, love, and courage to inspire you. Read More>>

G-eyez

I persist because my purpose is bigger than their opinions. The doubt, the hate, the negativity—they’re all just background noise to a mind that’s locked in. I’ve built myself to be resilient, to take every criticism and turn it into fuel. Every great visionary, every legend, has faced resistance. If anything, the hate confirms that I’m moving in the right direction. Read More>>

Apurva Shah

Persistence in the face of doubt, criticism, and negativity comes down to having a clear vision and unshakable belief in what I’m building. When I left corporate and started my real estate journey, I knew there would be skeptics, people who didn’t understand the path I was taking or who doubted whether I could succeed. But I also knew that if I focused on proving them wrong, I’d be wasting valuable energy. Instead, I focused on proving myself right. Read More>>

Barbara Ximena

Haters want a piece of your story whether its positive or negative – they will prey (sometimes secretly) for you to fail just for their narrative to be fulfilled. So simply put, if you know your truth, and you’ve been putting in the work to be accountable for your actions then just follow that feeling. RESIST THE GASLIGHTING AND COGNITIVE DISSONANCE. Make sure whoever is around wants the best for you – it should be clear no questions asked. Follow ur intuition. Read More>>

Mariset Gonzalez

It’s always difficult to deal with negative comments, so I try to focus on the positive things and keep doing what I love. Read More>>

Jeana Acosta

One of biggest way I am able to continue to persist is knowing I am being authentic and giving my best, while keeping my head down and not acknowledging what other people say or think about me. I do not engage in negativity or gossip about myself or others. I keep in mind their behavior is a reflection of them and not me. Read More>>

Annie Chomyszak

One of the hardest parts of running a business isn’t dealing with other people’s opinions—it’s dealing with your own self-doubt. Imposter syndrome – that’s the real battle. It’s not just about ignoring the outside noise; it’s about silencing that little voice in your head that says, Am I really good enough for this? Read More>>

Baizhuan “webber” Wan

The film industry is full of information gaps—between departments, within teams, even between individuals working on the same project. Miscommunication and misunderstandings are inevitable, and as a result, opinions about a person’s work or character are often mixed and, at times, controversial. Read More>>

Kate Pickle

This is an interesting question, and I think many creatives will relate to me when I say that I’m my own worst enemy, the toughest critic in the room, and my biggest hater. So, the fight to continue to believe in what I’m doing and share my work publicly is an internal battle. Seeing other artists’ success is inspiring and a source of joy, yet it can also trigger a ‘wobble’ in self-worth. Read More>>

Renuka Belwalkar

A younger me would have told you that these are the people that motivate me the most, as I would listen to Taylor Swift’s song “New Romantics” on repeat. However, as I’ve grown in my journey, something incredible has happened where I’m no longer doing this for other people, or to prove anyone anything. Read More>>