Have you ever noticed how the most hateful comments under a post often come from people who are completely irrelevant to your journey? They haven’t achieved what you’ve achieved, yet they somehow feel qualified to give their opinion on a subject they’re not experts in. Now look at the encouraging comments—those usually come from people who have walked your path, those ahead of you, who get it. And what about family and friends? Many of them are silently watching. Some may even discourage or criticize you privately. Yet we often let this negative pressure weigh heavier on us than the support we actually receive. Too many dreams are abandoned because of voices that never mattered in the first place. But here’s the truth: If everyone’s opinion was equally valid, cooking competitions wouldn’t hire professional chefs as judges, and music shows wouldn’t choose accomplished musicians to evaluate singers. Not all opinions are created equal. So why give power to irrelevant criticism? 👉 Next time you receive a hateful comment on your post, reframe it. Think: “Thank you for boosting my algorithm. You just helped my content reach more people.” 👉 Next time family or friends discourage you, remember—they’re looking at life through their own limitations, not yours. You don’t owe them every detail of your dreams. Protect your vision, and only share it with those who truly support your growth. The only opinions that should influence you are from people who have walked the road you want to walk—or better yet, are further along that road. Everything else is just background noise.

We often hear the phrase, “Tell me who your friends are, and I’ll tell you who you are.” In business and life, this idea stretches far beyond friendships—it’s about the environments we choose to immerse ourselves in. Your surroundings shape your beliefs, habits, and even your level of success. Think of it this way: take the same piece of chicken and place it in three different marinades. In one, you soak it in lemon and herbs, in the second, smoky barbeque, and in the third, fiery peri-peri spice. What happens? Although the chicken is the same at the start, after time it will taste completely different in each case. Why? Because the marinade changed it. We humans are no different. The “marinade” of our environment—people, conversations, energy, opportunities, and even the challenges around us—ultimately dictates who we become. Why Your Environment Shapes You No one lives in isolation. Every word you hear (On Social Media or in Real Life), every behavior you witness, and every energy you absorb leaves an imprint on your subconscious. Your environment isn’t passive—it actively programs you. - Surround yourself with dreamers, and you start thinking bigger. - Surround yourself with complainers, and soon you’ll find problems everywhere. - Surround yourself with doers, and you’ll naturally become more action-driven. The human brain adapts like a sponge. Whether it’s optimism, negativity, discipline, or laziness—if it’s around you long enough, it seeps in. The “Marinade Effect” in Real Life Imagine two people starting the same business at the same time. - The first is in an environment where people doubt, criticize, and fear failure. Soon, this person begins to second-guess every decision, hesitates, and stalls. - The second is surrounded by peers who innovate, encourage risks, and celebrate learning from failure. That person absorbs resilience, creativity, and persistence. Same starting point. Same potential. Two very different results—all because of the marinade of the environment.