An Inspiring Story and Tips for Proving Your Doubters Wrong

Recently, I was inspired by the Inc. cover story (by Lindsay Blakely) of Jessica Alba in a feature about "How to Prove Your Doubters Wrong".  I was inspired by the story because no matter what you are choosing to do in your everyday life that is driven by your passion (or necessity), at some point, you will have doubters.

Jessica Alba of The Honest Company

Inc. Interview Quick Summary
See full interview here and summary below:
When actress Jessica Alba first conceived her idea to launch a line of nontoxic household and baby products in 2008, skeptics tried to push her toward the same tried and true starlet formula: Why not just be the face of a new perfume? A few years later The Honest Company is expected to pull in more than $150 million in revenue in 2014, has a reported $1 billion valuation, and is poised to go public. Take that, Hollywood.

I founded The Honest Company on this idea: Everything that touches you and your family--everything in your home--needs to be nontoxic, needs to be effective and beautiful to look at, and needs to be affordable. Wouldn't it be great if you could pick five things and get them delivered through a monthly subscription?

Everyone I approached was skeptical. There wasn't one person who said, "Yeah, that can happen." I heard "Just do one thing really well and then you can expand" a lot. But I wanted this to be a whole lifestyle brand. 

Friends want to help you, but they're also going to be the most critical. We launched with 17 products. Even my husband, Cash, thought the idea was too big.

Whenever I tried to sit down with them about it, they would just get this glazed look on their faces. They see you only as something else. But all that just gave me fire to move forward."
  
My Example of Dealing with Doubters
Doubters come in the form of people who love you, people who misunderstand you, people who are envious of you...no person who has ever successfully accomplished something will be able to escape the fact that a doubter will speak against that invention, that creative solution, your triumph after many months of hardship, etc.  Expect it.

The difference between success and failure is your reaction to adversities, including doubters.

In TCW Press Room with Diana Nyad

For me, I recently had an experience that came from being driven from doubters.  For eight of my 12 years of schooling, I was told by English teachers that I'd never be a great writer. I was told this because I write very conversationally as opposed to according to proper English prose.

Imagine my excitement and fear when I decided to create this blog knowing that I'd have to write and be vulnerable to people who may have an opinion of my writing skills (or lack thereof). 

My fear was silenced when, for example, I walked into the Austin Convention Center last week to cover the Texas Conference for Women (TCW).  My press coverage included working alongside journalists, news outlets and other amazing bloggers.  My smile and excitement for the day wasn't just for the events taking place...it also gave me a deep set of satisfaction knowing that I am proving all those English teachers wrong with every great blog post I create!

And I can't explain the extreme pleasure I had when the media director responded that my coverage of the conference "was wonderful" and their social media folks tweeted it to their 10,000 followers! Nice!

Tips for Dealing with Doubters
KNOW that any great endeavor is going to include fear.  However, don't let that fear get mixed with the opinions of doubters.

Be clear about your truth.  Like Alba, her truth was clear in that she knew The Honest Company would offer something different that would resolve an unmet need.  The hard part was then building the company, people and processes...but her truth never changed.

Never stop giving grace to yourself.  Any pathway is littered with failure, confusion, disappointments, etc.  These things doesn't mean that your goal is not worth pursuing or that you should give up.  Most people talk about extending grace to others but in this instance, I'm referring to extending grace to yourself!

Know the source.  Opinions are going to come regardless.  One of the most wise things I've ever heard from a friend's Mom is to know the source.  For example, someone may have a strong (even valid) opinion of the viability of a goal but be cautious of "accepting" that opinion into your truth.  I have had people give me opinions about the viability of my company but knowing the source helped me filter that the person "failed in business" (and therefore, that opinion is coming from a bitter place) or is not doing the same type of business I'm doing.  No thanks!

Be encouraged, believe in your truth and most importantly, don't ever stop believing in yourself and the impact you can make on our world...

Que
@QSwerve
@CurvaLish
curvalish@gmail.com

* No copyright infringement intended in summarizing Inc. story.  Also, Curva-Lish is a Brand Ambassador/partner with The Honest Company.  Therefore, Curva-Lish will earn a commission for all purchases using links above.