Visionaries rarely recognize their own brilliance in the moment. Often, they’re plagued by self-doubt, standing on the edge of what feels like insanity. The weight of their ideas presses on them because they see something the world hasn’t caught up to yet. History is full of examples—figures like Galileo, who stared at the stars and told us we were wrong about our place in the universe. He wasn’t hailed as a genius; he was ridiculed.

Visionaries are often misfits in their time, misunderstood and labeled as foolish or naïve. But the hallmark of a visionary isn’t just the big idea—it’s the relentless pursuit of it, even when no one else believes. It’s the willingness to stand in the storm, to question the status quo, and to bet on something better.

And the fascinating thing? They aren’t recognized as visionaries until their ideas come to fruition. Before that, they’re just “the crazy ones.” It’s only in hindsight that society places the crown of genius on their heads.

So here’s the challenge: How do you keep going when the world doesn’t see what you see? How do you convince yourself you’re not crazy when everything around you screams otherwise? Maybe the answer lies in understanding that being misunderstood is part of the process. It’s the price of thinking ahead of your time.

And for those standing on the outside, watching someone take this journey—maybe it’s time to pause before labeling them as “foolish.” Ask yourself: What if they’re right? What if we’re witnessing the spark of something transformative?

Because visionaries aren’t born out of comfort or consensus—they’re forged in doubt, courage, and a relentless belief in something better.