If you’ve ever been laughed at in public, you know it can hurt badly. When I was much younger, I readily took offence if people laughed at me, or my ideas. Today, I’m completely immune to laughter or mockery directed at me . How? Because I’ve found it can never stop me achieving my intended purpose!
Only Shallow/Empty People Laugh At Others
I’m not talking here about situations when you and others poke healthy fun at each other. In such situations, no one ever leaves feeling stupid, having been used as the butt end of other peopels insensitive jokes.
Two common examples…
a. Someone can take privileged information s/he has about a failing or shortcoming you have, and tell others about it in a comical manner. Just for the fun of it…!
b. That’s one. Another can happen with complete strangers. These are often egotistical, all knowing, but secretly insecure individuals. They get their kicks from putting others down, and typically feel threatened when they encounter another person with obvious potential.
When you’re still in your formative stages, such persons may seek ways to keep you down.
Knowing that most people dread being made fun of, they readily reach for that weapon. How you respond to that will determine how far you go in pursuit of your dream.
Kick The Fear of Getting Laughed At: Many Great People Had to Do That to Succeed
I say ignore them. In fact I advocate laughing along with them, then making sure you LAUGH LAST!
Many people with great ideas are terrified of voicing or implementing them because of this fear of getting laughed at. As a result, they choose to do nothing.
They rationalise that it’s safer. to go through life not having any embarrassing failures on record for people to recall and laugh at. Some even convince themselves that they are better off that way.
Then when they see someone else emerge victorious – despite failing and being laughed at (in some cases for years!) – they feel resentment, and even say “That should have been me!”
I find that attitude quite funny.
Why resent someone who refused to let fear hold him/her back from pursuing a valued life goal?
Whose fault is it that you let the threat of people’s laughter cower you into giving up on yours?
You have only yourself to blame IF you let that happen to you!
It Is More The Norm, Than The Exception, for People to Fail/Get Laughed At BEFORE They Make It
That’s why James Cook (author of ”The Startup Entrepreneur”, a New York Times bestseller) said:
”If your ideas draw doubt or scorn, you are in good company!”
There’s an emotional/psychological process people needs to pass through, to discover success. Exposure to failure, which often attracts laughter from others, has been shown to accelerate that process.
Know therefore, that if you truly want to achieve great success, you must get used to being laughed at. That’s because you may have to fail now and then.
And when you do, there’s a good chance others will laugh at you.
But it never killed anyone. Get it?
The interesting thing is also that even though they laugh today, it does not mean they’ll always do so. Indeed, those same people will turn around to wildly cheer you, IF you persist and eventually succeed. They’ll completely forget they ever mocked you, or told you “it’s not possible”!
Strange…but true.
Therefore focus your energies on learning the lessons you need to succeed. Soon enough, you’ll be laughing last, while those who laughed at you, celebrate you!
History Is Replete With Examples of Great People Who Got Laughed At Initially: Study Them For Inspiration
I’ve compiled a list of links to get you started. When you learn that even the legendary Beatles, and Steve Jobs, failed before succeeding, you ‘ll know getting laughed at for failing can’t stop you!
1. Famous People Who Found Success Despite Failures
http://getbusylivingblog.com/famous-people-who-found-success-despite-failures
2. 15 Rich & Famous People Who Were Fired Before They Became Successful
3. Why the Best Success Stories Often Begin With Failure – Smithsonian
4. Failure Before Success: Even Famous People Fail
http://www.mefindinghappiness.com/failure-before-success-even-famous-people-fail/
5. 9 Things to Think About Before You Give Up
http://www.marcandangel.com/2012/11/02/9-things-to-think-about-before-you-give-up
6. 72 of the Best Success Quotes – Daring to Live Fully