Let me be clear—people care, just not as much about your life as you might imagine. We often spend so much time consumed by what others might think about us—our actions, choices, or families—when, in truth, none of it truly matters.

Your life is yours alone and no one else’s concern. What matters most is how much you value your life and what you do to make it meaningful.

Ultimately, your life is your responsibility and your masterpiece to create.

You’re not the center of the universe—no one is.

While this might sound harsh, it’s liberating. Most people don’t spend time thinking about you, and that’s okay. Your family and close friends care profoundly and will support you when it matters, yet no one will ever care about your life as much as you do.

This realization can free you from the weight of worrying about others’ opinions, giving you the freedom to live on your terms.

In the early days of my corporate career in California, I allowed fear of failure to guide me.

I constantly worried about how others perceived me—whether I’d get another chance if I failed or if I could shift blame elsewhere.

That fear paralyzed me and kept me from being honest with myself.

One shallow rule guided my decisions: if it “looked good,” it was good enough.

Perception was everything, and substance often didn’t factor in. I kept myself busy, throwing energy into endless meetings, projects, and relationships. Yet, I achieved little of real value.

Worse, my actions were destructive—I wasted money, opportunities, and time—damaging relationships along the way.

Despite repeated failures, I avoided facing the truth, clinging to illusions because honesty felt too painful.

Eventually, after countless failures, I came to an incredible realization: no one cared.

My mistakes weren’t memorable to anyone but me; they were fleeting impressions, quickly forgotten.

This awareness was liberating. I was free to fail, learn, and start again, reinventing myself with each new effort. And I did. I returned to college, earned my doctorate, and launched my own company at age 45.

But then, a more profound question arose: if no one cared, did I even matter?

I realized I had spent years in the corporate world seeking approval—working to impress others, be admired, and win applause.

Yet, no matter how many accolades I received, the satisfaction was fleeting.

That’s when I discovered the truth: success must be self-defined.

When I launched my company, I was clear about my intentions and motivations, and that clarity drove its success. Only I genuinely understand what inspires me, what brings me joy, and what fulfillment looks like. I had to let go of living up to other’s expectations and focus on defining success on my terms.

The reality is, no one truly cares—and that’s a blessing. It allows you to chase what genuinely makes you happy, put in the work, and live boldly. Mistakes are inevitable; however, in the grand scheme, they don’t matter.