They’ll Doubt You – How Badly Do You Want It?

This post explores overcoming doubt from others and staying focused on your dreams, pushing forward with determination while valuing constructive feedback.

One of the hardest parts of pursuing your dreams is dealing with the voices around you. Many times, those closest to you—friends, family, even your own parents—won't believe in your vision. They'll tell you, "You can't do it." You'll hear phrases like, "That’s unrealistic," or "You’ll fail and come back with nothing."

When I was 18, I moved to Poland to study computer engineering. Ever since I was a kid, I had this dream of studying abroad. But as soon as I shared my plans, I was bombarded with skepticism from relatives. I kept hearing, "You’ll never make it. You’ll just end up coming back." Later in life, when I embarked on my startup journey, I faced the same negativity. "That won’t work," they’d say. "You can’t pull it off."

This is common. If you’re getting applause and support from everyone right from the start, there’s a chance you’re not pushing the boundaries enough. People often hesitate to support new ideas or paths because they are afraid to venture beyond what’s familiar. So why does this happen? Is it because they truly believe you’ll fail? Or is something deeper at play?

In most cases, it's not about you. Many people discourage others because they project their own limitations onto you. If they think they couldn't achieve something, they assume you can't either. Sometimes, it’s envy. If they haven’t chased their own dreams, they might not want to see you chase—and catch—yours. Other times, it might come from a place of fear; they are afraid of change or what your success might mean for their relationship with you.

However, here's the critical part: What do you do with all that doubt? Do you give up? Or do you fight harder?

If you truly believe in your dream, the only way forward is to keep going. When people tell you, "You can’t do it," you need to hear, "I’m going to prove you wrong." You need to want it so badly that no amount of negativity can slow you down. But, this doesn't mean you shut out all feedback. Constructive criticism is different from simple doubt. If someone says, "Here’s a suggestion that could help," listen. Genuine advice, especially when it’s thoughtful, can be invaluable. The key is to filter out the noise. If it’s just another, "You can’t," tune it out. If it’s helpful insight, take it seriously.

When I faced doubts from others about my studies, my businesses, or any of my ventures, I didn’t stop. The negativity drove me to push harder. And that’s the mindset you need to succeed. It’s not about proving others wrong, but about proving to yourself that you are capable, no matter what anyone says.

At the end of the day, the only person who can decide if your dream is worth chasing is you. The world will always have people who say, "You can’t." But if you believe in your dream strongly enough, and if you're willing to work tirelessly for it, then it doesn’t matter what anyone else says.

So, the next time someone tells you, "You can’t do it," ask yourself, "How badly do I want it?" Because if the answer is, "More than anything," then there’s only one direction to go: forward.

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