“People who say it cannot be done, should not interrupt those who are doing it.” – George Bernard Shaw
This quote captures a timeless truth: the world is often divided into two groups—those who doubt and those who do. Whether in business, innovation, or personal growth, it’s the doers who move the world forward, while doubters stand back, questioning and criticizing.
The Power of Taking Action:
In every aspect of life, there’s no shortage of skeptics. “That’ll never work,” “You’re wasting your time,” or “It’s impossible” are words we’ve all heard at some point. But history is filled with examples of people who ignored the noise and simply did the work.
Take the Wright brothers, for instance. The idea of human flight was ridiculed for centuries. Scientists, scholars, and the public thought it was nothing more than fantasy. Yet, Orville and Wilbur Wright focused on their goal, blocking out doubt, and built the first airplane. Their success changed the world forever.
More recently, consider Elon Musk and SpaceX. When he first proposed reusable rockets, critics called it a pipe dream. Today, SpaceX lands rockets regularly, dramatically lowering the cost of space exploration. The difference? Musk and his team were too busy proving it could be done to listen to naysayers.
Doubters Will Always Be There:
Skeptics aren’t necessarily bad people. Sometimes they mean well, offering their opinions as a form of caution. But the truth is, doubt often stems from a person’s own limitations or fears. Just because they can’t see how something can be done doesn’t mean you can’t figure it out.
Imagine an aspiring writer who’s told, “There’s no money in books,” or an entrepreneur who hears, “The market is too competitive.” If every doer listened to the doubters, the world would never see new ideas, innovations, or inspiring stories.
How to Stay Focused:
When you’re chasing a goal, interruptions—whether negative opinions or self-doubt—can derail your progress. Here are a few ways to keep going:
1 .Believe in your vision: If you see potential where others don’t, that’s a strength. Trust it.
2 . Take small steps: Progress, even if slow, silences doubters more effectively than words ever will.
3 . Surround yourself with doers: Being around people who take action will motivate you to do the same.
Real-Life Example: Everyday Doers
Think of someone training for a marathon, learning a new language, or starting a small business. They hear comments like, “Why bother?” or “You’ll never stick with it.” But step by step, they prove it can be done. By the time they cross the finish line or reach their first sale, the doubters are silent—because results speak for themselves.
The Bottom Line:
If you’re trying to achieve something, don’t let doubt or negativity slow you down. As Shaw reminds us, doubters have no place in the arena of action. Let the doers do, because progress belongs to those who try. So the next time someone tells you it’s impossible, smile, nod, and get back to work.
The best response to “it can’t be done” is simple: do it anyway.