"Comparison is The Thief of Joy."
This quote is most attributed to President Teddy Rosevelt and has stood the test of time. Many small business owners struggle with this the most because they go to work each day and struggle to get ahead. They run ads that never convert, they struggle to keep employees, they struggle to maintain momentum, all the while their competitors seem to be pulling away.
As owners and executives compare their worst problems to the best images on social media you can easily see how they get down on themselves, but that is not a fair representation of what is really going on in their businesses. On the opposite side of the same coin, those that compare themselves to the competitor who is lagging, find themselves feeling superior to their competitor and that can lead to an arrogant position, opening the door for a complacent mindset.
Tidbit for today!
The only person you need to compare yourself to is your past self. In business, there is no nirvana. You are either growing or dying and the choice is yours. Where were you a year ago and how have you changed? What were you like before COVID-19 and what are you like now? What was your business like before COVID-19 and what is it like now?
If we sit there and try to compare our current situation with someone who hasn't traveled the same path, it only leads to ruin.
Here is the action item for today: pull out your journal. Where are you currently in business, in life, with your family, and with your friends? Write it down so you have a starting point. Now, where do you want to be in 90 days? Write down the goals you would like to achieve. Write down why these goals are important, then write down what capabilities you will need to achieve said goals.
When you are making comparisons in your life, these are the only comparisons you need. Where are you and where do you want to be? Do this every 90 days to keep yourself on track.
As far as others who seem to be getting farther ahead than you, stop paying attention to where they are. You don't know what they had to go through to get where they are. Cheer them on for their own success and keep pounding your own rock.
I hope this helps you with your small business journey!
