Why Being “The Problem” Is Exactly What the World Needs

Here’s some of the feedback I’ve been getting lately:   

“You’re so extra.”

“Why do you have to be so different?”

“You’re trying to disrupt the entire healthcare industry, and you have no experience or knowledge in that—so why are you even trying?”

“You’re a one-man team.”

“People are afraid of you. Not afraid, but afraid of you.”

“This is Buffalo. They want to keep the city a secret, and here you come with all these big ideas, causing problems for the powers that be.”

I think I am the problem. And you know what? I’m perfectly okay with that.

If you’re an entrepreneur, especially one who dares to challenge the status quo, you’ve probably heard some variation of these phrases. People will question your motives, your expertise, and your ability to pull off something that hasn’t been done before. But here’s the truth: innovation isn’t about waiting for permission. It’s about breaking barriers, challenging outdated systems, and proving that just because something has “always been this way” doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.

The World Doesn’t Change with Conformity

Disruptors make people uncomfortable. That’s the price of vision. When you think differently, when you push beyond conventional limitations, you will encounter resistance. Not because you’re wrong, but because people fear change. And more importantly, they fear the power of someone who isn’t bound by the same fears they are.

Every industry has gatekeepers, people who believe they get to decide who belongs and who doesn’t. But here’s the reality: the greatest innovators in history weren’t “qualified” by traditional standards. Steve Jobs wasn’t an engineer. Oprah didn’t have a journalism degree. Elon Musk didn’t start as a car manufacturer. What they did have was relentless belief in their vision and an unshakable commitment to making it real.

So when someone tells you that you’re “too much,” hear it as confirmation that you’re doing something right. If people say you’re “the problem,” maybe the real issue is that they’ve gotten too comfortable with problems that shouldn’t exist in the first place.

Building Without Approval

The truth is, you don’t need a whole team to start. You don’t need unanimous support. You don’t need every door to be open. What you do need is resilience. Some of the best businesses, innovations, and movements started with a single person refusing to accept “no” as the final answer.

Buffalo, like many places, has a culture that thrives on its own traditions. But that doesn’t mean those traditions should dictate your future. Whether you’re in tech, healthcare, sustainability, or any other industry, if you see a way to make things better, go for it. The powers that be might not like it, but movements aren’t built to please, they’re built to change.

Keep Being “The Problem”

If your ideas make people uncomfortable, keep going. If your ambition challenges the status quo, keep pushing. If your success forces others to rethink what’s possible, keep winning.

The world needs people who dare to be different. The world needs disruptors. The world needs you.

So be relentless. Be unstoppable. And above all, be the problem they never saw coming.

Copyright © 2025 Jameel Gordon - All Rights Reserved.