When You Start Winning, Not Everyone Will Cheer
Success is exciting. It’s what we’ve worked for, dreamed about, and stayed up late nights chasing. But here’s the truth that no one likes to talk about: when you start winning, not everyone around you will clap for you.
In fact, sometimes the silence is louder than the applause.
Why People Don’t Always Cheer
There are a few reasons why your wins may not be celebrated by others:
Comparison is the thief of joy. Your success might highlight someone else’s insecurities about where they are in their journey.
Unspoken competition. Sometimes even friends, family, or peers see your progress as a reflection of what they “should” be doing—and that can sting.
Not everyone is meant for your next chapter. Some people were only meant to be with you for certain seasons, not the whole story.
It doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. It often means you’re doing something very right.
How to Cope with the Silence
When the clapping stops, here are a few ways to keep going without letting the lack of support knock you down:
Validate Yourself First. Celebrate your own wins, even the small ones. You don’t need outside validation to know your progress matters.
Stay Grounded. Keep your focus on why you started. Remember: you’re building this for you, not for applause.
Shift Expectations. Instead of expecting support from everyone, accept that some people won’t show up. That way, when they do—it feels even better.
Practice Gratitude. Appreciate the people who do cheer for you, and don’t waste energy chasing the approval of those who won’t.
Finding Your People
The good news? There are people who will clap for you, push you, and remind you of your brilliance when you forget. You just may need to look outside your current circle to find them.
Seek out communities. Networking groups, masterminds, or professional memberships (like Mind & Social!) are full of people who want to see you succeed.
Find a mentor or coach. Someone who’s walked your path and knows what it feels like when the cheers are quiet.
Curate your circle. Start spending more time with people who genuinely lift you up and less with those who drain your energy.
Final Thought
Winning will sometimes expose who was clapping for you and who was clapping because they felt comfortable with you staying small. Both truths are important to know.
Don’t let the lack of applause make you question your success. Instead, use it as fuel to keep going and to surround yourself with the people who celebrate not just your wins—but also the journey it took to get there.
Because when you find the right people, you’ll never have to wonder if they’re cheering—you’ll hear it loud and clear.
Ready to find your people? Join Mind & Social today.