The Tech Founder & The Narcissistic Parent
How narcissism can derail your dreams and ambitions as a tech entrepreneur.
Lets hear a story from Tom about his experience with an abusive parent:
Growing up in a cramped apartment, my family often faced dire financial struggles. My father, a narcissistic man with grand illusions of his own success, rarely acknowledged our hardships. “You’ll never amount to anything if you keep complaining,” he would say, dismissing our hunger as weakness.
In school, I immersed myself in books, finding solace in stories of innovation and triumph. Each late-night study session fueled my determination to escape my circumstances. “You think reading will make you rich? Only connections matter,” my father scoffed, as if knowledge were a futile pursuit.
After graduation, I landed an entry-level job at a tech startup, working long hours for a meager salary. My father’s taunts echoed in my mind, pushing me to prove him wrong. “Look at you, stuck in a cubicle. You’ll never be a leader,” he belittled, oblivious to the fire igniting within me.
I spent every spare moment learning about software development and entrepreneurship. I developed a prototype for a SaaS product that addressed a niche market need. “You’re wasting your time on this pipe dream,” he said, shaking his head, but my passion only grew stronger.
With a small savings and countless nights of hard work, I launched my first product. It was a struggle, and the early days were filled with rejection. “You’re just throwing money away. This will never work,” my father warned, but I was determined to prove him wrong.
Slowly, the product gained traction. I secured my first few clients, which gave me the confidence to scale. “A few clients doesn’t make a company. Don’t get ahead of yourself,” he said dismissively, yet I could feel my vision materializing.
As the company grew, I faced new challenges—fundraising, hiring the right talent, and competition. Each obstacle made me more resilient. “If you fail, don’t expect my sympathy,” my father reminded me, as if his lack of belief would somehow drive me to collapse.
I eventually secured a round of funding and expanded my team, surrounding myself with talented individuals who shared my vision. “You’ll never lead them; they’ll see you for what you are,” he scoffed, but my team’s dedication affirmed that I was capable.
Years passed, and our company became a leader in the SaaS industry. We were recognized for innovation and customer service, achieving milestones I had only dreamed of. “Success is fleeting. You’ll always be an imposter,” my father warned, but I was finally ready to stand tall.
When we crossed the billion-dollar valuation mark, I felt a surge of pride. I had built something from nothing, overcoming every doubt and obstacle. “What does that even mean? Money doesn’t equal respect,” he said, but for the first time, I realized his opinion no longer defined me.
In the end, I had transformed my life, creating opportunities for others along the way. I knew I was successful, not just in wealth, but in resilience and perseverance. “You’ll always be my child, no matter your fortune,” my father conceded, but his words felt empty. I had found my worth, and that was the greatest triumph of all.
That story was all fake. It’s made up. In fact, there is no Tom, it was written by ChatGPT. Pretty interesting that an AI can understand narcissism, and I’d assume painful for those who actually had to deal with a narcissist.
A jealous friend, coworker, parent, or anyone else in your circle, is likely to say those quotes above, and derail your ambitions by breaking your belief in yourself. Dont let the lack of peoples belief break you down.
Here are some other quotes from a narcissist (they’re painful to read, beware!):
"You’re dreaming if you think this will work out."
"Success is about who you know, not what you know."
"Don’t get too confident; you’re still just a kid."
"You’ll never be a leader; you’re too soft."
"Why waste time on this? You should focus on something realistic."
"You think you can outsmart the industry? Think again."
"You’re not cut out for this; you need to find a real job."
"If you fail, don’t expect any sympathy from me."
"Your friends won’t stick around when things get tough."
"You’ll always be in my shadow; you can’t escape it."
"Money doesn’t mean respect; you’ll see."
"Stop acting like you’re a big deal; you’re still inexperienced."
"Don’t let your ego get ahead of your abilities."
"You’ll never impress the people that matter."
"Prove to me this isn’t just a phase."
“I did all the hard work, and now you get all the credit.”
“You think you’re so special just because you’ve had a little success.”
“I could have done that better if I had the same opportunities you did.”
“You’ve only achieved that because I’ve supported you; don’t forget that.”
“It’s easy to succeed when you have my talent.”
“You’re making me look bad with all your bragging.”
“I hope you’re ready to handle all the pressure that comes with success.”
“You might be successful now, but remember who taught you everything.”
“Just wait until the world sees how flawed you really are.”
“Don’t get too comfortable; it won’t last forever.”
If you’re resilient and smart enough to believe in yourself first, then you can push through useless noise like this, and strive to build something great.