You’ll be misunderstood. Mocked. Doubted.

People will call you crazy for chasing something they don’t understand.

They’ll try to humble you. Diminish your progress. Keep you within their limits.

The turmoil of being misunderstood by people is real.

Here’s how to deal with it.

INSIGHT

You are not alone.

Someone had the same issues you’re facing and still found a way out.

Someone had it worse than you and still found a way out.

Being disregarded by people for your ambition is a hallmark of success stories.

You’ve seen countless stories of successful people who here humiliated and doubted — until they made it.

But you forget those stories when you’re going through it yourself.

Because, let’s face it, it sucks to be misunderstood.

Often you have no results, no proof or certainty that you will make your vision come true.

"That’s never gonna work", you’ll hear.

Then the progress is slow and there’s no momentum at first, giving you that feeling that nothing is changing and the odds are against you — because they are.

"Give up already", you’ll hear.

All you have is this huge ambition and the willingness to do what’s necessary to turn it into reality. You keep working day and night with little to no progress at all.

"You’re wasting your time", you’ll hear.

It gets exhausting to keep believing in yourself when the whole world keeps doubting you and when you can’t see no light at the end of the tunnel.

That’s the crucial phase whereas you’ll endure it and make it or you will quit and it won’t ever happen. Will you fold? Or will you keep building regardless? It’s up to you.

Here’s the brutal truth though…

You're seeking sympathy. You’re trying to outsource your belief to others.
You want reinforcement. You want guarantees.
But there are no guarantees in a world where you could die tomorrow.
The more you embrace the unknown, the less intimidated by life you’ll be.

You haven’t internalized a key principle: you are the only one who should believe in your dreams.

Yes, it’s nice to have believers, but if they don’t appear and you get doubtful haters instead: KEEP. F*CKING. GOING.

Everybody loves an underdog story, but hates the underdog — until he succeeds. You must make peace with that. You'll be underestimated and misunderstood until you achieve results. Don't allow your vanity to overshadow your purpose. Seek results for you, not for the applauses.

Don't live by the cheers, or you'll die by the boos.

Misunderstood is good.

Yes, all that scrutiny you might be facing from your social circle feels uncomfortable, but is also a telltale sign that you are doing something right.

When you pursue something exceptional, people around you will misunderstand you because your ambition disrupts their reality.

Sylvester Stallone was rejected by over 1,500 casting agents for his slurred speech and odd looks. Proceeded to be one of the most prestigious actors and filmmakers in the world. Colonel Sanders was laughed at for starting a business so late in life — at 65 years old. Still built KFC into a global empire. Ingvar Kamprad, people laughed at his “build-it-yourself” furniture idea. Now IKEA is a multi-billion-dollar company.

What all of these stories have in common? All these individuals shared a trait: inadequacy. They were outliers by the standards of their times and they were mistreated or disregarded for that reason.

The greats before you all went through this. They were humilliated and mistreated. Until they weren’t. This is your season of being tested. Face it just like everyone before you, there’s no easier way.

ACTION

I wrote some mindset shifts you should learn to reframe the doubtful haters in your life and deal with them in a healthier way.

1. Understand it’s your life. Do what you love.
   If you let others dictate your path, you’ll wake up one day realizing you lived for them, not for yourself. The fear of judgment keeps most people caged in mediocrity. Break free. Chase what sets your soul on fire.

2. What do you want to remember on your deathbed?
   Picture yourself at the end of your life. Will you look back and be proud of the risks you took? Or will you remember all the times you played small to avoid criticism? The people holding you back today won’t even cross your mind when time runs out. Only your unlived dreams will.

3. These people don’t care about you.
   When someone discourages you, ask yourself: will they be there to pick you up if you fail? Will they provide for you? No. They’ll move on with their lives while you sit with the weight of unfulfilled potential.

4. You wouldn’t admire them, so stop caring what they think.
   They are haters. They are at the bottom of the food chain. Why let someone who has settled for less dictate how you live? If you wouldn’t seek their advice on success, why let their criticism hold you back? Look at their life. Is it one you aspire to? If not, their opinion is irrelevant.

5. Every great person was once the fool.
   Every successful person was once laughed at. Ridiculed. Doubted. It’s a rite of passage. The world tries to break you before it respects you. Your journey will have setbacks, but that’s what makes the victory worthwhile.

How to handle these people? Simple.

• Distance – Avoid places and situations where you’ll run into them.

• Disengage – Don’t react to their attempts to provoke you. Ignore. Ignore. Ignore.

• Detach – Their perception of you is a reflection of their beliefs, not reality. Know your truth. Trust your vision.

Leave them alone. Don’t react. Don’t attach emotions to their attitudes.

SPEAK

Have you ever been doubted, underestimated, or told you wouldn’t make it?

How did it feel? How did you respond? Are you letting people’s opinions hold you back?

Tell me. I actually read these and reply back.

If you have any questions or comments, just reply to this or send a message on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you.

CURATE

A selection of handpicked gems.

📚The 48 Laws of Power

This book outlines 48 timeless principles of power drawn from historical examples, helping readers navigate social dynamics, influence others, and protect themselves from manipulation in the pursuit of success.

💡Just an idea