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.
Ryan Wright
Haters and naysayers come in all shapes and sizes, but persistence is fueled by a deep understanding of the future of technology. In my case, blockchain and healthcare are on a growth trajectory, with a strong market for digital assets. I’m fortunate to be alive at a time when I can contribute to building one of the foundational blocks for future automation. Read more>>
Gaby Garcia-vera
I grew up raised by a single mom, who was the youngest of five, and her sisters—my Tías—a crew of baddies, each one more amazing than the next, and shoutout to my Abuela, who gave me shelter and language by sharing her love of novelas with me. They taught me a lot of important truths. These are a few lessons I’ve learned along the way:
– Unless people have rolled up their sleeves and done the work, their opinion doesn’t get to be the only one that matters.
– We can never fully account for what I like to call “Miami Math”—being in the right place at the wrong time or the wrong place at the right time.
– Take every shot—we miss 100% of the shots we don’t take. Read more>>
Omari Mcclain
I use negative energy as motivation. I want those who doubt me to see that I’m still moving forward—and doing so with strength. People will always have opinions, whether you’re successful or on the path to success. The key is to stay strong-minded, block out the noise, and remain resilient and focused on your goals. It’s about channeling that energy into something positive and proving, most importantly to yourself, that nothing can stand in your way. Read more>>
Chloe Choe
I remind myself that negativity and hate often stem from jealousy or insecurities, and they’re not a reflection of my worth or potential. I stay grounded by focusing on my goals and surrounding myself with supportive and kind people who uplift me. I also choose to respond to others with kindness, even when they’re critical, because it shows strength and helps me rise above the negativity. At the end of the day, staying true to myself and leading with compassion is the best way to keep moving forward. Read more>>
Melissa Northrup
When you pursue your passion, you will inevitably encounter people and situations that may try to hinder your journey and success. Although these challenges can be frustrating, remember that you can grow from these experiences. I find that they push me to think outside the box and boost my confidence. When I face haters or naysayers, I use their negativity as fuel to improve myself, strive for better outcomes, and keep pushing forward, no matter the circumstances. Read more>>
Jasmine Watkins
My mom had a huge influence on me when it comes to understanding why people do what they do. It may be hard to believe but when I was younger, I was bullied about my hair, clothes, and the way I did things. I wasn’t too bothered by it until I started getting older and really understood what the other girls were saying. I came home upset one day and my mom sat me down and said, “they are just mad because you’re light skin and pretty, with long, thick hair. People will say anything because they feel bad about themselves and want what you have.” Ever since that day, I applied that thinking whenever someone tries to put me down and make me feel bad about being myself. It’s tough to remember that sometimes, but having a supportive group that reminds and loves you for your genuine state of being and those words mom spoken all those years ago help me get through whatever anyone says. If you don’t have haters, then you aren’t doing something right. You can’t please everyone and everyone isn’t for you. Read more>>
Blake Deneweth
We have had many nay-sayers and currently have many haters. We submit each of our songs to a ton of critics and they rip us apart. Everything from the singing to the song structure itself. The biggest fact that has allowed us to push the negativity out of our heads is that we are creating music that we want to hear. We aren’t shaping our sounds to what we think will be popular. We truly don’t care if a majority of people don’t love our music, because we love our music. You have to believe in what you are doing, and you can’t let the fear of people’s opinions dictate how you create or express yourself. Read more>>
Amy Gould
First it’s very important to distinguish haters and nay-sayers from criticism. Criticism isn’t always constructive but it also isn’t always harmful. We learn and grow from others. Haters are toxic.
My mother always told me to “kill them with kindness.” Over the years of my life, I learned the hard way that this wasn’t necessarily effective. The real key to dealing with haters is to kill them with apathy. Read more>>
Takuto Domeki
I like how silly it sounds to say I research memes. But I think memes do offer some really interesting insights on how image culture affect us. My interest in memes definitely stemmed from an appreciate of comedy, as I’m always curious as to why something is funny to me, and asking this question helped me a lot in uncovering default biases I wasn’t previously privy to. People who write off my work as silly are correct, though I think people who write off my work as valueless are wrong. Read more>>
Felicity Folson
I had to tell myself the majority of the things people say about you are projections. It’s a difference between constructive criticism and just being a hater . It’s easier said than done, but I tell myself not everyone is going to agree or like something. It could be something you do, say, or just you in general. With that being said, it’s not my job to care how someone feels about me. At the end of the day, only God can judge me. It’s hard at times, but the older I get, the easier people’s opinions roll off of me. I don’t speak as much as I used to because my character & demeanor are always going to be louder. I sometimes think back to when I used to always defend myself, but looking at it now, what am I defending? I’m just wasting energy and time that could be used to invest in myself. I’m secure with myself enough to know who I am instead of letting someone think they can tell me who I am. Read more>>
Paul Stonick
Sure, that’s a great question. People today expect a different kind of leader. I have been called “unconventional” several times in my career and I love that because creatives see things differently. We are the kids that survived, and we have tremendous empathy, or I have pissed off too many people — but if you’re not pissing people off then you’re not innovating. Leadership starts with core values, which are the things that you believe are important in the way you live and work. They are determined by your experiences and what you view as the ideal standards of behavior. I have been leading teams for over 20+ years, this is still where it starts for me. Read more>>
Julius Mcclarin-davis
You stay persistent despite haters and nay sayers by putting work in and letting the results speak. Your growth isn’t determined by someone’s negative perception of what you believe you’re creating. Read more>>
Rylin Rossano
I’ve encountered more than my fair share of doubters, people who have questioned my abilities, called me names, and tried to put me in boxes I didn’t fit into, from educational influences, to people i considered friends. But here’s the thing—no one else gets to define my path. In fact, the more I’ve been doubted, the more I’ve found the strength to push forward and show up as my true self. Read more>>
