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.
Sadie Monroe
I use haters as fuel. It takes a lot of work on yourself to not get hurt in the fire though. You have to know who you are so projections just roll right off of you. I will say feeling underestimated or overlooked at times in my life only ended up blessing me in the end because I could never let it go. I will never let them be right even though opinions are subjective anyway. Read more>>
Mikey Ray
When it comes to anyone speaking negatively about who I am, what I do, my music, or anything of the sort… their opinions are irrelevant. I enjoy hearing things from people who don’t actually know me. If they say my music is trash, I’ll release a new single. Read more>>
Julia Bodwell
Anytime you take a risk and try to do something that requires skill and dedication, there will be nay-sayers who want to tear you down. It usually comes from a place of jealousy, disbelief, or just sheer ignorance (although sometimes it can just be ill-placed curiousity); if they can’t do what you’re doing, surely YOU can’t do it, either, right? Read more>>
Tanya Ellis
I think something I’m really good at is letting things go. I try to ignore what the nay sayers say and do and also take risks. Read more>>
Aomni Lewis
Focus on you and what your building is something I kept saying to myself everyone’s journey is different and you just don’t know when your working up your next moment I also told myself I was doing something good when my views would go up on socials even if the likes didn’t match up I would still post,love, and share my own work! Read more>>
Ryan Crissey
Everyone will have people either for them or against them. Most of the time, those that are against you are acting that way because they want to see themselves succeed but either do not have the means or the drive to do so. So I have to remind myself that they are acting out because they want to be where you are. Read more>>
Vasily Klyukin
I love all off them. Haters are working for me for free They spend their time to help me to grow. A constructive criticism helps you to grow evolutionary. But deconstructive criticism- Revolutionary, step up. Read more>>
Kaitlan Farrior
When I encounter naysayers and critics who try to bring me down, it actually motivates me even more to succeed. I see them as people who have tried and failed, or who never dared to dream big enough themselves, so they try to impose their limitations on others. For me, their doubts become a challenge—a challenge to prove them wrong and to prove to myself what I’m capable of. Read more>>
Alberto Dean Orozco
One of the things I realize, and discovered during my entrepreneurship journey, is that having haters is actually a great thing. I know a lot of people that try their best to please everybody. But the moment that your success is making other people spread negativity or hate on social media… Then that means you are on the right track. Read more>>
Chipelo
I remember when I first started and hearing people’s reactions at school—the laughter and surprise when I said I made music. I was determined to prove I wasn’t just another “SoundCloud” rapper, so I put effort into my brand and marketing to make it look as professional as possible. Over time, my music got better, and I grew, but so did the haters. It’s almost like people hate seeing others do well. Read more>>
Tyler-Marie Evans
One of my favorite quotes is by the great Andy Warhol. He writes “Don’t pay any attention to what they write about you. Just measure it in inches.” I’ve found that one of the greatest distractions to any creative is focusing in on what the nay-sayers have to say. People like to create heroes and villains in their mind, usually to help themselves feel better. Read more>>
Gladys Ato
I was born into a world of judgement – from the high expectations put on me as a first-generation American-born Latina, to the haters that have buzzed around me like mosquitos to this day. Even when I became a university president at 38, the chatter never stopped about whether I truly deserved it. It hurt deeply, and led me to constantly question what was wrong with me. Read more>>
Versatile Verse
My whole life there has been people who don’t believe or share the same vision as me and for the most part that has ultimately been the strength to push forward. Not in the sense to prove those people wrong but to prove to myself I am right. It seems as if people only support you once you are successful, luckily for me I feed off the negative energy. Read more>>
Manya Welch
The irony is that the ‘haters’ and ‘nay-sayers’ actually showed me I was on the right path in following my soul vision and purpose because it felt like the echo of a collective egoic reaction. When we start making changes and experience resistance from others it’s their way to protect you based on their level of consciousness. Read more>>
Sean Gordon
I’ve always had the opposite problem that most people face in regards to doubters, and haters. I’ve always had the support of everyone I’ve ever met. I was always told I could make it, or that I have what it takes, and that I should pursue my art, but it was ME who was my biggest hater. Read more>>
Jillie Reil
I think I have faced challenges all along my entertainment journey. I grew up shy and awkward in a small Midwest town where I was told the creative arts were silly and impossible. I participated in dance team and modeled as a teenager, but when I graduated from high school, my parents insisted I pursue a “real career” in law. Read more>>
Janet Wang
I realized in my 30’s that you can’t be friends with everyone. You can’t get along with everyone. And no matter how genuine you are you’re not going to be everyone’s cup of tea. So when I face negativity, I really just ignore it. If it’s something that is going to impact my life in some way, then I’ll speak to that person directly. Read more>>
Jacqui de Jong
I overcome the haters by following my highest joy and excitement. I started modeling and acting as a creative outlet in addition to my career as a corporate lawyer, and I have faced significant backlash because I am combining two very different careers. Read more>>
Rori Nogee
Show business is notorious for being rife with rejection and negative comments that tear down one’s self-esteem in the most vulnerable of moments. I can still remember the comments that have stuck with me- Read more>>
Montanya and Deidria Gardner
Having a small owned black business you learn quickly to get tough skin. Not to mention we are women, so I feel we have to always go a tad bit harder. There are many people who will try to create shortcuts and cheat codes to obtain success and popularity. On thing we will always stick to is our morals and values. Read more>>
Qianzhuo Zeng
For me, art reflects the infinite dimensions of human experience. Under the banner of Polyfreedomism, each of my works is the process of exploration of such dimensions and I just reveal new perspectives and forms through different techniques. When facing haters and nay-sayers, I find strength when I define my principles: the freedom of exploration, the courage of innovation, and the steadfast commitment to my “Polyfreedomism.” Read more>>
Tina Miller
As a survivor of childhood trauma, rape, domestic violence that led me to not speaking until I was 3 years old only to discover a horrible speech impairment, speech therapy was necessary for me to learn how to properly speak. I found refuge in writing. While struggling with learning disabilities and ADHD, I quickly learned if I made others laugh with me, they wouldn’t laugh at me. Read more>>
