Stop Comparing Yourself To Others

With social media taking over our lives, it is easy to get caught up in competing with others who are where you desire to be in life. “Keeping up with the Jones’s” is a common phrase used to describe people who constantly strive to have what others have or to be like someone else. It can be a toxic condition that can cause anxiety and depression when unrealistic goals cannot be achieved. Worrying about what everyone else is doing can take major focus away from your individual goals and the bigger picture. Too many people get caught up in everyone else’s lives and they forget about themselves. In business, sometimes we focus on our competition so much, that we lose clarity on our original purpose. We need to stop these comparisons as they are actually achieving nothing and have no effect on our competition.

When I first started in business, I was always worried about my competition and what they were up to. I would follow their every move and try to be just like them. I think it may have helped to be like this during the start-up phase, by taking inspiration and motivation away from them. However, as time went on, I started to look cheap and people would brand me as the copy-cat or as a follower. It was evident my work was being replicated to look as close to the competition as possible. This method was okay for the short term, but for the long term I did not create my own identity. This was the only way I knew how to keep up as I was new in business. I became so obsessed with my competition that I forgot about myself. As soon as I realised this, I switched my focus towards my own goals and purpose. My business started to take off and I didn’t even notice what my competitors were doing as I was too busy concentrating on my own work.

Of course it is important to know and understand your market well and others competing in your space, however limiting your time on this is paramount. We just don’t need to worry about their weekly sales figures, new ambassadors they have on board, who their staff are or what their plans are for a rebrand. Your energy needs to be spent on yourself and your business, and working on innovation and productivity. Focus on the solution your product or service brings to your consumers’ problem. Spend more time listening to your customers and clients over your competition. This will lead you to perfect what you do for your market and your market only. Concentrate on your existing customer base and show how much you love them.

>A common mistake potential property investors make is they compare themselves to other investors. They often read inflated success stories that have had a big public relations push through relative media outlets. It can sometimes feel depressing when you are reading about someone who has accumulated “50 properties in 50 months” when you still haven’t even got your foot in the door to the market. This can prompt you to feel envious, frustrated and impatient about your situation. We all have individual financial goals and it is important to remember that comparing yourself to others rarely achieves anything. Everyone’s situation is different, from financial backing to location to investment strategy. You will never know the sacrifices others had to make to get where they are, and it is all irrelevant anyway. You only need to know the sacrifices you have to make, which is the best place to focus your energy.

People usually start browsing through their Instagram or Facebook when they don’t feel their best. It is at these times when it seems like everyone else’s life looks so much better than yours. This can cause severe anxiety and depression and it is important to double down on your own work to stay focused on your goals. The only way to do this, is to forget about what others are doing, and set small goals for yourself to get you through your tasks. The progression you make will empower yourself to feel happier and more fulfilled.

The only other person to compare yourself with is yourself. Did you do a better job than yesterday? Are you making progress in your weight loss journey? Did you learn something new today? Did you spend any time on personal development today? Are you reaching your short term goals? Every day should be an improvement on yesterday. Don’t lose focus just because you see others progressing. Instead of feeling jealous and frustrated, take inspiration and motivation away from other’s successes. Most importantly, always remember your greatest competition is YOURSELF.