Today, I came across a viral video from Chicago showing delivery robots navigating the streets. In the clip, an elderly woman stood directly in front of one of the robots, blocking its path in protest. She appeared to be upset about the technology, believing it could take jobs away from people. Someone recording the incident urged her to move, but she held her ground.
It made me think: when launching a new high-tech business or product, how prepared are you for this kind of backlash? You often don’t expect people to actively protest your innovation, yet it’s something many entrepreneurs end up facing. That resistance is exactly why some people hesitate to innovate. But if you don’t want to simply follow the crowd, you have to be willing to take risks — even if it means making some people angry.
Of course, there’s also the perspective that you can’t make everyone happy. There will always be someone opposed to what you’re doing.
In the video, the robot simply refused to move, likely for safety reasons. It would be dangerous if these machines were programmed to push past people blocking their path. Still, it was a striking example of the pushback new technology can face — and the tough choice between moving forward anyway or waiting for someone else to pave the way first.