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.

Dr Rita Renee

Don’t Shrink to Soothe Them
Why I Stopped Apologizing for Being Fully Me
By Dr. Rita Renee

At some point in adulthood, I realized something sobering: I was shrinking—not because I lacked confidence, but because my confidence made them uncomfortable. I was dimming my light to soothe their egos. Playing small to make others feel big.  Read More>>

Willy Calderon

We live in a world and a time where everyone has an opinion and it’s much easier to criticize than to praise. I believe both are needed because there is no light without dark. “Persist” is a strong word because negativity does not affect you unless you allow it to. My philosophy is to be a good person and good people will be good to you. That’s really all that is necessary to progress. Read More>>

Maurice Caradine

One thing that I have learned when it comes to the things we are pursuing is that haters, nay-sayers, etc are not real. They are people and circumstances that we have created in our own mind to help push the narrative that people are really that influential in tearing what we believe was meant for us down.  Read More>>

Bart Herbison

As Executive Director of the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), I draw persistence from my love of music. I was a little over four years old when my late Uncle Billy Pullen said, “Barty, come over here for a minute.” Then he played me “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” by Elvis Presley. I was never the same and have been around music in a professional capacity since I became a deejay on our local radio station WTPR in Paris, Tennessee at age sixteen. Read More>>

Daniel Kazan

The truth is, the harshest voice isn’t out there, it’s yourself. It’s your own doubt whispering that maybe your style isn’t enough, maybe you’re off track, maybe you’re falling behind, this art won’t be accepted and so on. That voice has followed me through a lot of my career. Read More>>

Javier Villalobos

The best and most wise thing you can do for yourself is to simply focus on yourself and do the things that make you happy and love regardless of what people think about you. When it comes to people with opinions– they’re always going to be there. Speaking on photographs, it’s important to take photographs for yourself and not for others or social media likes. If your goal is for likes or engagement and not for the love of the game, a lot of the time what happens is slow burnout. Read More>>

Big Xodia

All I ever wanted was to make music — not just for the fame or recognition, but because it’s the fire that fuels me. From day one, I’ve been driven by a relentless desire to grow, to learn, and to become the best version of myself through this art form. Read More>>

Lorena Ramirez

I came to an understanding that it doesn’t matter if you’re doing good or bad, people will always have something to say. I learned that the more authentic you are, the more you speak your mind, the more people love you…then the more hate you’ll receive. It’s inevitable. You have to be clear in your message and who you are talking to. In my case, if I can inspire one more person to work on their health and fitness, getting sober or simply being comfortable to share on social media to build an online business, I won! Lastly, haters are free marketing. Read More>>

Lourans Mikhail

Everyone will tell you to do something they have seen or to stop doing the art style you are developing, mainly because they don’t have the vision. They see the finished products that already exist and their view of the world is limited. That is where artists come into play and push the boundaries of “everything has already been done”. Read More>>

Diane Pauley

More than ever, I feel really strongly that this is a question I need to address because it’s an important part of my story that I’ve been wanting to tell, and I’m finally ready to share it.

A quote I’ve been holding onto lately has been ‘Bright women have dark stories.’ And I believe these women found their way out of the darkness by lighting their way through it. It’s that same light that got me through my journey, especially the darkest moments, and I’m proud of how my light shines bright today. Read More>>