Why Your Friends Don't Support Your New Venture?

Back in 2018, I was added to a WhatsApp group of Quorans. Within five minutes it became a mess and eventually, a small WhatsApp group of people from Gujarat was made. That's where my and Shriya's friendship blossomed. As the days passed, we became really good friends. Within a month or so, we were best friends.

Shriya is 22 years old ambitious girl from Gujarat who is currently a teacher in a reputed institution in New Delhi.

We have been with each other through thick and thin. There was a time when I badly needed someone to be with me and listen to all the shit that I was going through. She was right there for me. There was a time when she needed someone when her life was messed up, I was right there with her.

The friendship matured over the years and we developed a really good understanding.

Fast forward to 2021, I am a part of the startup founded by my other best friend. I'm supposed to look after the brand management. So, when we decided to make our social media presence solid, I shared the Instagram profile of our startup and asked everyone to help us.

A lot of people quickly did that. The startup profile had 50 followers in a few minutes. I was happy. I had also sent the profile to my close friends through direct message. Shriya was one of them.

A day or two passed. Being a keen observer, I had an eye on every people who are there to support me. Sadly, Shriya was not there. That was really shocking for me. She hadn't followed the profile even after I asked her personally.

There was a time when I had supported her on her poetry page, crafts page and food blog. So, it was really saddening for me to find out that she wasn't here to support me when I needed it.

And, Shriya wasn't the only one to do so. I had observed that my friends with whom I shared a warm relationship were not there to support me in any way while total strangers were supporting me enthusiastically.

I am that type of person who doesn't assume the other side of the story of people. So I asked Shriya why didn't she even just follow the account?

This was her response.

And that was more than enough for me to find the answer to the question I had been searching for ages and which was making me restless during those days.

“Why are friends not supportive of our startups or any new adventure?”

Because they are unable to relate to it, connect to it or understand it.

Humans are very selective about who they let into their lives and whom they support. Until and unless you can not relate or connect with something or understand the depth of it, it becomes really difficult for you to validate it or promote it.

Maybe this post will touch the deepest corner of your heart and you will share it happily with your other friends. But, at the same time, you may not even upvote the answer sent by your best friend just now.

As I have introduced Shriya very well, it must be clear by now that she is not a dumb girl who wouldn't understand the importance of supporting each other. On top of it, she is a modern, understanding and intelligent girl who is quite aware of the latest startup culture.

She could have followed, liked and shared our startup’s account, to make me feel good for a moment, and then move on. But, she chose to be honest and I'm glad that she did so. I had never looked at this situation from the perspective of Shriya.

Once we relate to anything or understand the depth of it, we go to any extent to support that.

For example, if the ideology of a certain political party is able to strike through your heart, you will go to any extent to support and promote it. You may even end up ending the years of real friendships because of political differences.

In certain cases, you support a creator who doesn't even know about your existence but you find it difficult to support your childhood best friend.

That is the tricky part.

You may have a best friend who would not mind spending thousands on you. But, he may be really bad at supporting your new business. You may have a best friend who has been with you in all your naughty adventures but will find it difficult to reshare your story.

This is something most people don't understand.

“If they can't connect with it, they can't honestly support it.”