I want to preface this by saying I’m not writing this to complain, or even try to brag about my business success. I apologize if I come off as being corny, my goal here is to share my experience. I’d like to know I’d anyone else has experienced this.
A year ago I started a rug making business. I make hand-made rugs and sell them. The first 6 months I had absolutely no clients or sales. Eventually my Instagram started gaining traction and some of my posts went “viral”. I started getting a ton of clients, and was at some points booked out for weeks with work. I was able to quit my job and go into this full time. I found my groove and learned how to aquire clients.
In the beginning, my best friends were rooting for me. Always showing me love and being supportive. I would also return the love to them in other ways (like celebrating big accomplishments in their lives, and being supportive in anyway I could) It was a mutual love and support we showed for each other.
Over time the support slowly stopped coming from them as I continued to grow. I wasn’t too bothered becuase I don’t expect them to always show support 24/7, but the occasional like or comment stopped coming and I noticed.
Recently I just had one of my biggest accomplishments for my business. I made a rug for a “celebrity” client. A huge name in the skateboarding world. He has 900k followers on Instagram and is well-known. I met him in person to deliver him the rugs. He reposted me 3 separate times to his 900k followers. This is a guy I’ve looked up to (skated my whole life) since I’ve been a young kid. This was something I am incredibly proud of.
2 of my best friends didn’t say anything. They didn’t like my posts about it, they didn’t congratulate me. Nothing. I could see that they saw my Instagram story about it, but didn’t bother to show any support whatsoever. Ironically, the most support I got was from strangers and online friends that I’ve made over this past year. They were so hyped for me. But my best friends completely ignored my big momment.
Not going to lie that shit hurt really bad. I’m the type of person to always show support to the people I love when they have big accomplishments. I love seeing people win. It actually gives me so much energy.
I understand that this is an insecurity inside of me to want validation from the people I love. But I’ll be damned I’d I said it didn’t hurt deeply. The 2 people I want rooting for me and seeing me win in life, stayed silent for my biggest accomplishment. I start to get the feeling that they are starting to resent me or find me to be annoying.
It’s just so funny how currently the most support I get is from strangers and online friends. They are always lifting me up, as I do the same for them.
Sorry if this was super long, I just wanted to get this off my chest. Thanks for reading.
This is exactly right. Lots of posts on here that are a mixed bag. I had a similar post a few months back about the same topic this post is bringing up and this response hit it in on the head.
Your family is everything, treat it as such. Everyone else has their own objectives in life, and envy is real amongst everyone especially as you get older and the have-not’s crowd around you grows.
Entrepreneurship is a lonely game. You think about your business all the time, but reap all the rewards of your profits. Unfortunately what comes with that is a price. The price is that most people get confused how you became more successful than them, become envious, and then start to wish for you to start to get knocked down. The distance becomes somewhat palpable.
Like this post said, focus on your family, parents, kids and be grateful for them daily. Life is different for you now!