In partnership with
You Don’t Need to Be Liked
The Approval Trap
There’s a lie that’s been pushed on people for way too long: that being liked is somehow tied to being successful.
It’s not.
In fact, chasing approval is one of the fastest ways to slow down your growth.
A lot of people move through life trying to avoid friction. They want everyone to agree with them, support them, clap for them. But that mindset comes at a cost:
You start shrinking your vision to fit other people’s comfort
You hesitate to take bold risks
You water down your voice to stay “acceptable”
You delay action because you’re waiting on validation
And while you’re doing all that… time is still moving. Opportunities are still passing.
Quick break for my sponsor, please check them out👇
Privacy-first email. Built for real protection.
Proton Mail offers what others won’t:
End-to-end encryption by default
Zero access to your data
Open-source and independently audited
Based in Switzerland with strong privacy laws
Free to start, no ads
We don’t scan your emails. We don’t sell your data. And we don’t make you dig through settings to find basic security. Proton is built for people who want control, not compromise.
Simple, secure, and free.
Ok, now back to the article…
Success Doesn’t Ask for Permission
Look at anyone who has built something real.
They were doubted. Questioned. Misunderstood.
Sometimes even disliked.
But they kept going anyway.
Because success doesn’t come from being liked, it comes from being committed.
Committed when it’s inconvenient
Committed when it’s uncomfortable
Committed when nobody understands what you’re building
The people who win are the ones who move without needing approval first.
Breaking Generational Barriers
If you’re trying to do something bigger than what’s been done before you, understand this:
It’s going to make people uncomfortable.
Not because you’re wrong, but because you’re different.
You might outgrow environments
You might challenge old mindsets
You might move in ways people don’t recognize
And that’s exactly what breaking cycles looks like.
You don’t shatter limits by blending in. You do it by stepping outside of what’s been accepted.
Quick break for my 2nd sponsor, please check them out👇
Your AI features are generating more data than Postgres was built for. TimescaleDB extends it to stay fast at any scale. No pipeline, no second database. Get $1000 Credit.
Ok now back to my amazing newsletter…
Liked Later, Not Now
Here’s the part people don’t talk about enough:
A lot of the same people who don’t support you now will celebrate you later.
Once the results show up.
Once the wins become visible.
Once the proof is undeniable.
Respect often comes after results, not before.
So if you’re waiting to be liked before you move, you’re waiting on something that usually comes at the end of the journey.
LAST sponsor, please check them out👇
Daily news for curious minds.
Be the smartest person in the room. 1440 navigates 100+ sources to deliver a comprehensive, unbiased news roundup — politics, business, culture, and more — in a quick, 5-minute read. Completely free, completely factual.
Focus on What Actually Matters
Instead of asking “Do they like me?” start asking:
Am I improving daily?
Am I executing on my vision?
Am I staying consistent when it’s hard?
Because at the end of the day:
Being liked is temporary.
Building something real is permanent.
Keep Your Eyes On the Goal
You don’t need approval to start.
You don’t need validation to continue.
You don’t need to be liked to win.
What you need is discipline, clarity, and the willingness to keep going when it’s not popular.
The goal isn’t to be liked. The goal is to become undeniable.
Connect with me on my socials:
