How Strangers Make You Successful - Not Friends and Family

I'm sure you're asking yourself, how can strangers make me successful.

Your family and friends are the people that will support you, right? 

The answer is maybe. Sometimes without realizing it, our closest friends and family members are actually the ones holding us back. Whoa, now I'm getting too personal, right? Just hear me out for a moment. 

My friends and family say they support me in whatever I decide to do and I don't question that. However, because they're so close to me they're also the first to say...

"I'm not sure that's the right path for you."

"Have you thought about doing (insert anything) instead?"

"I just don't want you to lose money."

"You can try that, but shouldn't you get a regular job too?"

Do they really intend to be negative? Of course not, but they feel that they need to be the voice of reason for us. It could be motivated by many factors. They might not truly know your knowledge or talent on a subject, they don't want to see you fail or be upset, or maybe it didn't work for them and they want to save you from heartache. No matter what motivates their hesitancy for you to chase your dreams, you must remember that more than likely they are coming from a place of love. However, discouragement is discouragement, whether they mean to discourage you or not. 

In fact, did you know that Jesus himself faced this same lack of support from those closest to Him? Sure, some of His first disciples were nearby fishermen and they supported Him, but what about the rest of the folks close to Him? In the sixth chapter of Mark we read that Jesus was rejected in his home country of Nazareth. They said...

"...From whence hath this man mighty works and wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us?..." -Mark 6:2-3

In today's world, they basically said...

"Can you believe that guy Jesus? Since when can he perform 'miracles'? He grew up right here, we know his family, who is he kidding?"

Jesus responded with...

"...A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." -Mark 6:4

The Bible continues on to say that "...he marvelled because of their unbelief..." (Mark 6:6)

You see, the people of Nazareth were so close to Jesus, having watched Him grow up among them, that they lacked belief in Him. While others had no problem identifying Him as the messiah that was prophesied by John and written in the Word.

The same can be true for us. Sometimes our family and friends see the kid with the dirty face, the one they helped, the person you were as a child. It's not that they don't believe in us, they usually do, it's just more difficult for them to see the knowledgeable person you have become. 

What I'm going to say next sounds a bit crazy for me because I'm a huge proponent of communication in all aspects of life. However, sometimes the solution is keeping your goals to yourself at the beginning. Give yourself a chance to hustle without any distractions or naysayers. Write down your goals, watch tutorials, reach out to a mentor, work, work, work, and read, read, read. Find people that will believe in you. Once you start to succeed and establish yourself, it will be easier for your friends and family to jump onboard. They will be able to witness what you've been able to accomplish.

Then the true magic happens! Once your friends and family believe in you and your dreams, the sky is the limit. They will be your best cheerleaders and shout your praises for all to hear. 

If I can ever help you by being your cheerleader, please let me know. I believe in chasing your dreams (no matter how crazy) so you can live a life that is free and humble. 

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