When we start something, whether it’s building a business, a career shift, a creative project, or deciding to prioritize our well-being, it usually begins with a sense of purpose. Something inside says this matters. That inner voice might not have all the answers, but it knows something important about what we need, what we’re capable of, or what the world needs from us. So, we start the work.
Then come the opinions, sometimes couched as concern if the move is right for us; sometimes it is judgment disguised as advice. Now with social media, opinions also come to us as likes, comments, or worse, silence. So many opinions, and I realized I was listening and letting other people’s uncertainty become my own. That’s how it starts. You begin something that feels right, and slowly, the outside noise creeps in. The more visible your choices become, the more feedback accumulates. Launch a business, and suddenly everyone’s an expert on your market. Change your parenting approach, and your relatives will have thoughts about your methods. Start prioritizing your health, and friends wonder why you’re “so obsessed with wellness.”
I’ve seen this pattern repeat in my own life and countless others I’ve watched navigate big changes. When Sanjay and I founded J2, we had a clear purpose. It wasn’t fully polished, but it was ours. We wanted to build something real, something that connected great people with great opportunities. We didn’t need a round of applause, and we certainly didn’t need permission. But over time, as the company grew, so did the commentary. Sometimes helpful; sometimes not.
Here’s what I’ve learned: the volume of outside opinions often increases in direct proportion to how much your choices challenge others’ comfort zones. When you start living differently, you may unintentionally highlight that others could make different choices too. That can make people uncomfortable, and their discomfort can sound like concern, disapproval, or even silence. The danger isn’t in the opinions, it’s in how they can slowly erode your connection to your original “why”, if you let it. You may start second-guessing what once felt solid and reduce your vision to fit into safer, more conventional boxes. And you begin accepting advice from people who were never meant to shape your path in the first place.
That’s why it’s so important to stay rooted and focused on your inner voice. Your purpose isn’t meant to be rigid; it should evolve as you learn and grow. But there’s a difference between natural evolution and drift caused by pressure.
The most grounded people I know have developed what I think of as “purpose filters.” They don’t shut out feedback, but they don’t absorb it blindly either. They ask, does this input serve my purpose, or someone else’s agenda? They stay curious about their own growth while being cautious about advice that asks them to become someone they’re not.
When the noise gets loud, and it will, remember you’re the only one who knows the full picture and will live with the consequences of your choices. So let your purpose guide you, not the opinions that trail behind it. You are your own author.
“Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” – Steve Jobs
What helps you stay connected to your purpose when everyone else seems to have a thought about your path? I’d love to hear how you filter the noise or share this with someone who might need a reminder to tune back into their own “why.”
Have a great weekend.
-Vijay