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.
Brittany And Alexa Contreras
When it comes to negativity comments, the most we see is about our bodies. And the main reason we open the channel was because of those harsh words, we knew we weren’t the only big girls or the only ones that looked a certain way. And for that reason, we are motivated by negative comments, because we see people who supports and feel seen through us. Read more>>
Erika Carter
When I was in elementary school in 5th grade there was a girl who accused me and my twin sister of bullying her. I had literally never spoken to the girl before but I hung around a group of girls who were actually bullies causing the problem. The accuser’s father threatened to press charges against me and my sister. My mom immediately decided that it was time for my sister and I to move schools. Read more>>
Maria Motta
In the early days of my career as a children’s book illustrator, I faced a lot of rejection. Trying to get representation felt like an uphill battle, with countless “no” responses along the way. But I’ve always believed that persistence is key, and as much as I am persistent, I’m also a pusher. I knew that if I kept waiting for someone else to give me a chance, I might never see my dreams come to life. So, instead of giving up, I decided to build my own path. Read more>>
Jake Cameron
It’s hard to please everyone. Of course, there will be people that you come across who will not like you or will not see your vision or will not want to work with you for reasons un-known. And that’s okay because what anybody thinks of me is out of my reach and it’s something I have no control over. At the end of the day I focus on working with people who want to work with me. People that like when I’m around and are genuinely happy to see me. I try my best to stay away from the haters and nay-sayers and not force myself to be liked by people who just bring me down. Read more>>
Celia Cox
At a certain point, you need to let your ego drive. That’s what I had to do. I’ve faced many struggles as a business owner and have sometimes let the haters get in my head. But when I snap back to reality and remember who I am and what I’m capable of, I continue to accomplish all of my goals—and even add a few more. Letting my ego take the wheel, in the most humble way, allows me to keep proving everyone wrong with kindness, without feeding into hate. Read more>>
Wendy Gerlach
Being a photographer who works exclusively with my cell phone has definitely proven to be challenging, at times. There are many people, both in the photography world and even people who aren’t into photography as a profession or a hobby, who think that you aren’t a “real photographer” if you just use a cell phone. Read more>>
Sanjana Satagopan
Its really hard to say exactly how I persist because of this, but I can start with a story. When my cofounders and I first had the idea to create EcoLearning Together, many people I knew didn’t think it would work out or grow to be such a big nonprofit. My close friends and most of family supported me, but other people I asked to help out would constantly reject it. I remember one family member saying that creating a full nonprofit was a ‘silly’ idea and I didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Adults I asked for support would often suggest joining another nonprofit, but the thing was, I tried. Read more>>
Virginia Magdaleno
Nothing is easy. Especially small business. We don’t think anything done, that is worthwhile, has been easy, comes easy or is easy to maintain. Once you learn that, and hopefully you learn it early, it’s easy to tell yourself to keep going. You will think back to those times you could have quit but didn’t, and through that, found success in your vision. The nays will always be there and slowly turn to yays. There is something about yays that make a business owner feel validated, but keep going even when no one is rooting for you. Read more>>
Jah’lil Brooks
I use them as motivation to keep going and I feel as if this world we live in is setup to see you fail so therefore I honestly don’t feel the need to entertain nor let someone hating get in the way of what I have going and where I’m trying to get at in life. To me there opinions or how they feel doesn’t matter just keep going because there always going to be someone out there hating! This your world everyone is just living in it … Read more>>
Marquez Cunningham
Understand who you are. People will always have their own opinions about you but you are the only person who can deem what is true about you. Read more>>
Ryen Nikkel
Persisting despite haters and nay-sayers comes down to staying true to yourself and your goals. Growing up, I was the quiet, introverted kid who kept a small circle and often faced teasing, even from those close to me. It wasn’t easy to build confidence, and breaking out of my shell felt like a monumental task. Read more>>
Heather Griffith
Pursuing my dreams and goals is a deeply personal journey, and I understand that not everyone will see the vision I have. When faced with naysayers, I approach the situation with empathy. I recognize that their doubts often stem from their own experiences or fears. This understanding helps me remain grounded and compassionate. Read more>>
Dr. Alexis Sams, Pt
When it comes to my work, especially in challenging conventional wisdom around food allergies and health, I’ve encountered my share of skepticism. But I’ve learned that criticism often comes from a place of misunderstanding or fear of change. Read more>>
