Unfortunately, dealing with naysayers or negative comments is an all-too-common phenomenon when starting a business or transitioning into the entrepreneurial world. It’s easy to let the negative drag you down and believe what you are doing is wrong. However, this is likely far from the truth and something you need to learn to deal with when running a business.
Here are five strategies to ignoring naysayers as you become an entrepreneur:
Recognize That Opinions Are Not Always Important or Right
You are not going to impress everyone. That is how business works. Competition is healthy because everyone is different. That’s what makes business so fun at the end of the day. Simply recognizing this fact can help you realize that not every comment is worth the time or focus.
The opinions that matter are your customers’, not your friends’, spouse’s, or parents’. Even though it feels like you need their support to continue, you don’t. Many of these people will never understand your passion as much as you do.
Focus On Your Passion and Business Goals
Block the negative comments out by focusing on your passion and goals. Most unsupportive people are often jealous or see your action as a threat against their inaction. They say these comments to keep you in the same position as them. Don’t let them win. These comments don’t matter when you have goals to accomplish.
Schedule Your Daily Activities Based on Your Goals
Recognize Constructive Feedback Only
It can be easy to hear feedback and assume it is negative. However, even negative comments can be helpful information. Learn to turn out the knowledge you know is not true and take ownership of what is true.
Know You Can’t Impress Everyone
It is impossible to make everyone happy, which is why one of the most important things you should do first when starting a business is to learn your target audience. Your target audience is not everyone, no matter how many businesses wish this was possible. Having everyone as your target audience makes it impossible to relate to them and market to the right people.
Cut Them Out
Overall, cutting naysayers out is the answer. Even if they are family, if they cared about you, they would support you, not bring about negativity.
In the end, you are in complete control of your own reactions, not other people’s opinions. Therefore, it is best not to waste your time focusing on what people have to say about your goals as an entrepreneur. Instead, those who want to support you will provide you constructive feedback to truly grow and succeed, not keep you down.