I recently watched a YouTube video where the presenter laughed at people who started businesses and failed. He presented failure as a foolish, guaranteed outcome, a carnival of humiliation. His “advice”?

“Why do you think you’re going to be successful when so many people have failed? Go and get a job, and stick at that job if you’re lucky enough not to be fired.”

He spoke as if a job is a fortress, and entrepreneurship is a house of cards.

The Hypocrisy of Mocking Ambition

This YouTuber’s message reveals three critical flaws in his thinking:

1. The Stunning Hypocrisy

The YouTuber is, himself, running a business. His product is the video; his revenue comes from ads and views generated by mocking others. He is literally profiting from the failure of other entrepreneurs while being an entrepreneur himself. He’s effectively saying, “Don’t try to build a business, but please, keep watching my business where I tell you not to build a business.” He’s in the very arena he’s telling everyone else to avoid.

2. The Reality of Job Security is Ignored

The video completely ignores the fact that employment is not a safe harbor. People get made redundant, sacked, and laid off every single day, often after decades of loyal service. There’s no “silver lining” or viral video for them; it’s often a devastating blow delivered impersonally via a conference call or a sterile email. This creator doesn’t turn his ridicule towards employees, saying, “You shouldn’t get a job because you might be fired.” He only targets those who had the courage to try.

3. It Reinforces a “Stay in Your Place” Mentality

The most damaging part is the message it sends to people who are considering taking a chance. This content doesn’t just report on failure; it actively shames it. It makes aspiring entrepreneurs feel foolish for even trying, reinforcing a societal pressure to be quiet, stay in your lane, and not rock the boat. It kills innovation and ambition before they even have a chance to grow, telling people their dreams are laughable.

But here’s the painful truth his laughter ignores.

The Illusion of Safety

This is personal for me. A close family member had her “dream job” at a top firm. She spent years building her resume—university, boot camps, networking—finally landing the role. Two years in, the company began mass layoffs, blaming AI. They targeted the vulnerable, those who had an off-week despite years of solid work.

She wasn’t just out of a job; she was shrouded in shame. Her LinkedIn profile, once a badge of honor, became a source of pain. She had believed she was the job. When it was gone, she felt she was nothing.

The Padlock That Wasn’t Locked: A Lesson in Perception

One morning, I rushed to take my children to school. I parked inside some flats because the gate was open. When I returned, the gates were closed and my car was trapped inside.

Panic mode. No one around. I had to get my car out. I was prepared to ring every doorbell until I got an answer.

After ringing a few doorbells, finally someone answered and said:

“The gate isn’t locked. Look closely — the padlock only looks closed.”

And they were right.

The padlock wasn’t completely locked at all. Someone had skillfully positioned the padlock so that it appeared locked.

That was the moment I realized: Sometimes the only thing keeping us stuck is our assumption — not the truth.

We think doors are closed. We think opportunities are “not for people like us.” We think we are locked out.

But sometimes the lock is only a perception.

The YouTuber’s message is that padlock. He presents entrepreneurship as a firmly locked gate that ordinary people shouldn’t even try to open. But his entire premise is based on perception, not reality. He hasn’t even tried twisting the lock himself — he’s just assuming it’s permanently shut because that’s what he’s been conditioned to believe.

The YouTube presenter laughs at business failure, blind to the fact that corporate failure is just as real, and often more personally devastating. It comes with the same fear, the same identity crisis—but without the freedom of being your own boss.

The Three Faces of Your Fear

When you consider starting out, the fear isn’t abstract. It wears three specific masks:

  1. The “They’re Laughing at Me” Fear: The dread of social judgment and ridicule from people like that YouTube commentator.
  2. The “I’m a Fraud” Fear: The internal voice that whispers you’re not good enough, smart enough, or connected enough to succeed.
  3. The “But My Family Depends on Me” Fear: The crushing weight of real-world responsibility, the terror of letting down those you love.

These fears are valid. But they are not unique to you. They are the universal tax on ambition.

Your Antidote to the Noise: The “Silent Mode” Strategy

The biggest mistake beginners make? Announcing their plans to the world too soon.

You don’t need everyone’s opinion. You need a plan. The most powerful thing you can do in the early days is to enter Silent Mode.

This means:

  • Stop asking for permission. You don’t need it.
  • Stop broadcasting your every move. Build in silence.
  • Your validation comes from a plan, not from applause.

This isn’t about secrecy. It’s about protection. Protect your fragile, beautiful idea from the naysayers—who often project their own fears—until it’s strong enough to withstand the weather.

Failure is a Pivot, Not a Tombstone

That YouTube guy presented failure as a final verdict. He’s wrong.

Marlan Padayachee’s Comeback

Marlan Padayachee in South Africa had her first branding agency collapse during the 2008 financial crisis, leaving her in debt. That wasn’t the end of her story. It was the painful lesson that led her to build Sugen, a loyalty tech company so successful it was later acquired by a global firm.

Vincent HosĂ©a’s Pivot

Vincent HosĂ©a in Tanzania saw his first e-commerce venture fail because the market wasn’t ready. Instead of giving up, he pivoted. He took that hard-earned market knowledge and founded KopaGas, a company that now uses tech to provide clean cooking fuel to thousands.

Their “failures” were not endpoints. They were the most expensive and valuable market research they ever conducted.

The Real Question You Must Ask Yourself

So, the question isn’t “What if I fail?” The real, gut-wrenching question is:

“What is the true cost of NOT trying?”

Let’s be brutally honest:

  • In one year, you’ll be in the same place, watching others build the life you want, wondering “what if?”
  • In five years, you’ll have added five more years to a career that could eliminate you with one email, no closer to your own dreams.

The pain of a failed business attempt fades. It becomes a story, a lesson. The quiet, lingering agony of “what if?” can last a lifetime.

Ready to Turn Fear Into Action?

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Until next time, remember: The only real failure is the dream you never pursued.

With respect,
Joanna Davis