Don't let the opinions of the average man sway you. Dream, and he thinks you're crazy. Succeed, and he thinks you're lucky. Acquire wealth, and he thinks you're greedy. Pay no attention. He simply doesn't understand.
-Robert G. Allen
This is a true experience.
In September of 1983, my Bride and I began constructing a building to house a business we were starting. The initial investment took nearly all our capital and a large loan. If it did not work we would have lost everything. During construction, I was having coffee one morning with a local real estate agent who surprised me when he said he would be willing to give me a reduced rate to sell the property when the business failed. It was a comment of absolute, not one of "if it fails." but when it fails.
As it turned out, the business was a smashing success from the minute it opened. A few after the business opened I met the same real estate agent and he said, "you are the luckiest guy I ever knew."
So the average man is unwilling to take the risk my Bride and I took and considered it a failure before it ever got built. Until, it proved to be a tremendously successful business and then, we were lucky.
Luck had nothing to do with it but a vision and willingness to go all out for a dream we shared gave us the success we enjoyed.