Ignore the Real World: Create Your Own Path to Success

That would never work in the real world.

If you've ever shared a new idea, you've probably heard this phrase before. The "real world" can often feel like a discouraging place—a place where bold ideas are dismissed, innovative solutions are shrugged off, and anything unfamiliar is seen as doomed to fail. It’s as if this "real world" demands that only the most established, tried-and-true methods survive, regardless of how inefficient or outdated they may be.

But what is this "real world," really? When you look closely, it's often a world ruled by pessimism and a rigid adherence to the status quo. Many who speak of the "real world" live with an underlying belief that society isn't capable of big changes or new directions. They expect fresh ideas to falter and assume that most people simply aren’t ready to embrace anything different. This mindset doesn’t just stop at skepticism—it often leads to a desire to pull others down. If you're hopeful, driven, or even a little ambitious, people with a "real world" mentality will try to convince you that your ideas are impossible. They’ll warn you that you’re being unrealistic, that your efforts are a waste of time.

But here's a powerful truth: the world they live in doesn’t have to be your world.

The "real world" is often more of a mental construct than a physical place. It's a belief system, a mindset, and, most of the time, an excuse. It’s a comforting justification for not taking risks, for playing it safe, and for sticking with what’s familiar. But just because something hasn't been done before doesn’t mean it can’t be done. History is filled with people who ignored the "real world" and, in doing so, created one that was bigger, better, and more inclusive.

Think about companies that have defied conventional expectations. Ours is one of them, and we're proud of it. If we had followed the rules of the so-called "real world," we wouldn’t be here today. According to that mindset, we shouldn’t be able to thrive with a small team of just a dozen people spread across eight cities on two continents. It’s supposedly impossible to reach millions of customers without a single salesperson or a massive advertising budget. In the "real world," we certainly shouldn’t be openly sharing our strategies and insights with everyone. But despite breaking every one of these rules, we’ve succeeded and continue to grow. In fact, these very decisions have been key to our progress.

Here’s the thing: the "real world" isn’t a place at all. It’s a barrier—one that holds people back and stops them from trying new things. When people insist that something won’t work because it’s not "realistic," what they’re really doing is projecting their own fears and limitations onto you. They may have tried and failed before, or they may never have tried at all. Either way, they’ve decided that if they can't see a way forward, then no one else should either.

But that doesn’t have to be your story. You’re not bound by someone else’s limitations.

To move beyond the "real world," you need to redefine it for yourself. Start by questioning why certain rules exist. Why are some ideas considered impractical? Why do some people assume that success requires a rigid set of steps or an established formula? When you look closely, you’ll see that many of these "rules" are based on nothing more than habit. They're just ideas that have been repeated so often that people accept them as truth without ever stopping to ask, Is this really necessary?

Embrace a mindset of possibility and growth. Allow yourself to imagine a version of the world where your ideas can succeed, where the rules can be bent or even rewritten, and where people are willing to try something new. Innovation doesn’t happen by following what’s already been done. It happens when you step outside of what's comfortable, ignore the naysayers, and build your own path.

So the next time someone tells you your idea won’t work in the "real world," take it as a sign that you might be onto something powerful. Challenge yourself to look beyond their doubts. The world they live in doesn’t have to define yours. In fact, by creating your own way, you might just show them that there are many ways to succeed—ones they couldn’t have imagined.

In the end, the "real world" is only as real as you make it. Don’t let it limit you. Go beyond it, and create a world that reflects your vision, courage, and determination.

After all, everything that exists today started as an idea that "would never work in the real world."

Hassan is a seasoned project management expert with over 34,000 hours dedicated to steering complex engineering projects and driving product development. With a career spanning two decades, he has made impactful contributions to both tech startups and FORTUNE 500 companies, consistently delivering high-quality products to market. Hassan’s commitment to professional growth is evident in his mentorship of teams, fostering a culture of performance excellence, and empowering individuals to elevate their skills.