Whenever I start doing something new, a storm of criticism arrives.

When I decided to move to the US thirty years ago, even my friends exclaimed, “Are you crazy? It’s easier to get to the moon!” After two years of effort and numerous attempts, I earned a scholarship, saw the US, and learned English.

Twenty-three years ago, when I was searching for a job in Europe, local people asked, “Are you planning to clean floors there?” I responded, “No, I have an MBA, I speak English, and I can secure a corporate job.” No one believed in me, and I’d heard them laughing. 

Twenty-four years ago, when I left my ex-husband in search of a place where Kazakh women could be treated as equals, his family predicted, “You’ll come crawling back, begging for forgiveness.” I never did, and I’m doing well, thank you.

And so on and so forth.

When I left my Italian expatriate position, where I had worked for 15 years, my manager told me, “Sandu, who needs us? There is unemployment in the job market. You’re here safely and quietly. Just keep a low profile, do your work for the Directors, and try to be as invisible as possible.” I left and ascended to senior management.

The same scepticism followed me when I founded my company.And now… as I am jumping into new ventures like business and wellness retreats, some HR directors I approach express their doubts, saying, “Seriously? Who needs retreats nowadays?”As I wrote today to one of the HR directors, assuring him, “Believe me, all the overburdened and disheartened employees who are contemplating leaving your company soon, and for whom you’ll provide allowances due to mistreatment, would prefer to attend such retreats, bond with their teams, and return healthier.

” What people say may be true for them, but I’d instead take action and potentially regret it than not act at all. The truth is, there are no regrets if you pursue your dreams.What might sound crazy to some people today could become your reality tomorrow!!!And you – do you get criticized???#EmbraceChange #DareToDream #steppebystepretreats #steppebystep #retreat