Don’t Let Anyone Stop You From Following Your Dreams

People will project their fears and limiting beliefs onto you

The year was 2010 and I was in my 3rd year of undergrad in Canada.

I was standing on a stage pitching a startup idea at an elevator pitch competition.

The idea was simple — a food delivery platform where you can order from any restaurant in the city and our local fleet would deliver it to your home or office.

At the time, nothing like that existed — no Uber Eats, Deliveroo, DoorDash or Foodora.

One of the judges who was a highly successful local entrepreneur told me my idea will never work. He said it was complex and expensive to test and had too many uncontrollable factors.

I didn’t agree and he clearly didn’t see as far ahead into the future as I did.

I never pursued the idea though, because at the time I had just turned 20 years old and I wasn’t in the mindset of starting a business — I was just excited to pitch my ideas and participate in a challenge.

But that moment taught me a very valuable lesson in life:

Just because someone doesn’t see the potential in your idea, doesn’t mean it’s not a good one.

Building a food delivery app was never a dream of mine — and I highly doubt it ever will be.

The moral behind the story is that you should never let anyone stop you from following your dreams in life. Just because someone “successful” doesn’t see the potential in you — or your ideas — doesn’t make them right.

Not everyone has the charm, imagination, and intuition that you do. And the many experiences you’ve had in your life that light your inspiration are unique to you, and you alone. So is your thumbprint. So is your story and imaginative dream.

“You got a dream… You gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you you can’t do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.” — The Pursuit of Happiness

You Set Your Own Limits

You need to keep raising the bar if you wish to grow and elevate the level of your game. And that bar is set by you.

While working at Google, I was always pitching close friends and colleagues cool concept ideas that could be started as side projects. I’m an enthusiastic individual who’s always eager to try new things — I can’t help it.

One day a friend on the team turned to me and said:

“Stop searching for more. Look around you. This is the best you’ll ever get.”

I didn’t know what to say to him. But on the inside, I was screaming: ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?

How could you explain to someone with little-to-no more ambitions in life the importance of having them and believing in your ability to achieve them?

Yes, getting an offer from Google was an incredible achievement. Working there was great as well. But to think that progress and growth end there, that from this moment onwards — from the age of 28 — you are in cruise control because “this is the best you can get in your life” is simply ridiculous.

And it was only at that moment that I understood why he’d always shut down or make fun of the many side-project ideas I would share with him.

It was because he wasn’t interested in more, in trying new things and exploring curiosity. He was comfortable and he was happy to sit tight in that comfort zone. He was projecting his fears, insecurities, and doubts onto me. Moreso, he set his own limitations and he didn’t dare question them.

And if I had listened to what he said — if I had conformed to his comfort and limiting beliefs — I wouldn’t be where I am today.

“All that a man achieves and all that he fails to achieve is the direct result of his own thoughts… as he thinks, so he is; as he continues to think, so he remains.” — James Allen

Your mind is powerful.

You can convince yourself of whatever you please — choose to believe in abundance rather than scarcity. Choose to have faith in yourself.

If you think you are worthy of greatness, you should believe that you are because only then will you have a chance of actually achieving it.

If you believe you can transform your ideas, writings or art into a profitable business and a thriving lifestyle, you do not need anyone’s permission to try and realize that vision.

You Do You — And Make Sure To Create A Circle That Supports You

If you want something in life, don’t let anyone else stop you.

Don’t let other people project their fears and limiting beliefs onto you. Don’t let anyone convince you that you are not good enough. That you cannot run a business, so don’t even try. That you cannot act, so forget a career in acting. That you cannot write so drop that dream of becoming a writer.

Do you.

Be you.

And while you’re at it, stay out of negative circles — they tend to bring you down. I’ve had firsthand experience in this. If someone’s thoughts, beliefs, and energy don’t inspire you, go hang out with someone who does.

If you want something in life, you have to confidently go after it and play your own game. If it doesn’t workout, that’s OK. At least you know that you tried and gave it your all — and that’s the secret to living a life with no regrets.

Negative circles are life-sucking, dream-crushing, energy-draining. They’re made of people who don’t want to take ownership or responsibility of their own lives —instead, they complain. Instead, create an environment that will allow you to thrive. If you can’t find one, build a new circle that will propel you upwards.

Ignore The Doubters, Then Prove Them Wrong

When I was 16 years old, my grade 11 English teacher told me that I’m not gifted in writing. I recently found out she also told my parents that they should lower their expectations of me — that maybe I’m not fit for university education.

I could’ve let her crush me, but I chose to ignore her — and the best reaction to the doubters is to ignore them.

Years later, I went on to complete a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing followed by a Master’s degree in International Management. Two months ago, I mustered the courage to write and publish publicly.

And two weeks later I received this message from a reader:

“Your article is the most brilliant and inspiring I’ve ever read on my entrepreneurial journey. I’m really looking forward to someday when you compile a whole book. I should be one of the first to grab a copy.”

How beautiful is that message?

This reasserts everything. Have faith and always believe in yourself. If you’re struggling in your journey, take a moment to pause, look back, and be happy with how far you’ve come.

Whatever happens — don’t let anyone stop you from following your dreams.