- Insecurity and Jealousy – Many people project their own fears and failures onto aspiring entrepreneurs.
- Fear of Change – Seeing someone take risks forces others to question their own choices.
- Cultural and Social Conditioning – Society promotes traditional career paths, making entrepreneurship seem unrealistic to some.
- Crabs-in-a-Bucket Mentality – People may try to pull you down because they fear being left behind.
- How to Overcome It – Stay focused, ignore negativity, and surround yourself with a supportive network.
Starting your own business is one of the most rewarding yet challenging journeys you can embark on. However, one of the biggest obstacles isn’t just securing funding, finding clients, or perfecting your product—it’s dealing with the negativity from people around you. Whether it’s friends, family, or even colleagues, many individuals seem eager to belittle or discourage those trying to break free from traditional career paths. But why does this happen?
Often, people project their own insecurities onto entrepreneurs. They might wish they had the courage to take similar risks but instead choose to criticize rather than support. Others fear change—when they see someone stepping outside the norm, it forces them to reflect on their own life choices, sometimes leading to resentment. Additionally, society has conditioned many to believe that a 9-to-5 job is the only "safe" route, making business ownership seem unrealistic or doomed to fail.
Another common reason is the "crabs-in-a-bucket" mentality, where people instinctively try to pull others down rather than allow them to succeed. The idea that someone from their own social circle might achieve something greater than they have can be threatening.
So, how do you deal with it? The key is to stay focused on your vision, ignore the naysayers, and build a network of like-minded individuals who uplift you. Entrepreneurship is a long game, and with resilience, the negativity of others will fade into the background as you pave your path to success.
Q: Why do people always try to belittle others when they see someone starting their own business?
People often belittle others who are starting their own business for several reasons, and it usually has more to do with their own insecurities than with the entrepreneur themselves. Here are some of the main reasons why this happens:
1. Insecurity and Jealousy
- Many people feel stuck in their own lives and wish they had the courage to take risks. Seeing someone else step out of their comfort zone can make them feel inadequate, leading them to belittle the person instead of supporting them.
- Friends, family, or peers may not want to see you change because it forces them to reevaluate their own choices. If you succeed, it disrupts their belief that playing it safe is the only way.
- Some people have tried and failed in their own pursuits, and instead of acknowledging their mistakes or trying again, they project their fears onto you. They assume that because they failed, you will too.
- Society often teaches people to follow a traditional path—go to school, get a job, retire. Anyone stepping outside of this "safe" path might be met with skepticism or criticism.
- Many people don’t understand the grind, persistence, and uncertainty that comes with starting a business. They assume success should be immediate, and if it’s not, they mock or discourage.
- People are used to seeing you in a certain way—maybe as a coworker, friend, or family member who has never done anything risky before. When you start a business, it challenges their perception of you, and they may try to belittle you to maintain their comfort.
- This refers to the idea that when one crab tries to escape from a bucket, others pull it back down. Some people can’t stand to see others rise because it makes them feel left behind.
How to Handle It:
- Stay Focused: Let success be your response.
- Ignore the Noise: Don’t seek validation from those who don’t understand your vision.
- Surround Yourself with Supportive People: Find a network of entrepreneurs who uplift and inspire you.
- Use It as Fuel: Turn their doubt into motivation to push harder.
At the end of the day, your success will silence the critics. Keep going!