Early-stage founders must actively curate their social circles. Friends or family who exhibit 'tall poppy syndrome'—mocking entrepreneurial aspirations or viewing them with cynicism—can be a significant drag. Surrounding yourself with optimistic people who are also 'winning' is crucial for momentum.

Matt Mullenweg notes that entrepreneurs inevitably cycle between being celebrated and vilified. Surviving this requires ignoring the noise and focusing on core principles and customers, recognizing even today's tech giants faced similar periods of extreme negative sentiment.

The most vitriolic critics of your startup are almost never successful founders. People 'in the arena' understand the struggle and offer constructive feedback. Detractors are often 'in the stands,' tearing others down because they haven't experienced the challenges of building something worthwhile.

Your personal circle signed up for a relationship, not to be your customer base. Relying on them for sales or engagement is unsustainable and emotionally draining. Focus instead on finding genuine fans and customers online.

Entrepreneurs often believe their biggest fear is judgment from anonymous internet users. However, the real psychological barrier is the anticipated criticism or misunderstanding from their close friends and family. These are people who are unlikely to ever be customers, yet their opinions are given disproportionate weight.