Tips for Prioritizing Self-Improvement Over Comparison

It's very hard to be on social media and not compare yourself to others. There will always be someone more successful, smarter, wealthier, better looking, faster, thinner, with more contacts and followers and more put together than you! When we compare our lives, careers, bodies, families, trips, children, homes (the list is endless) we often hate how it makes us feel, So why do we do it? Social Media has made it easy and allows you to compare yourself to others 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with just one click. Comparison can also lead to resentment, depression and lower self-esteem. It definitely has damaging affect on the level of happiness and success you will enjoy in your personal and professional life. Football season is wrapping up and I heard a group of fans criticizing how much players were paid. A wise coach once told me "Never resent something you wish was yours!" When others achieve levels of success or income, that only proves it is possible for anyone, including you! My friend Diane took up running marathons later in life. Her goal was to improve her individual time, while she raised money for autism. If she focused on others who were her age and ran faster, she would have lost the joy of running, while raising money for a cause close to her heart! I want to share five tips that have helped me avoid "comparisons!" FIRST: Compete with yourself - Set short and long-term goals and journal your successes. View any obstacles and failures as opportunities to learn. (Remember successful people fail more, because they try to do more) SECOND: Practice gratitude daily by starting your list today. Every night before going to bed, just track three things you are grateful for on your phone. Add to the list every evening, so when you wait up the blessings in your life are front and center. Revisit and read the list often! THIRD: Celebrate other people. When you hear great news about someone else, keep your focus on them, instead of yourself. Create ways to enthusiastically celebrate their great news, while you keep working toward your own accomplishments. FOURTH: Set boundaries on how much time you spend on Social Media. Be aware that Social Media doesn't always reflect reality. (you already know this, but have your really thought about it?) It is not the complete picture of someone's life - it's just the highlight reel. FIFTH: Focus on your strenghts, talents and gifts. Write down what you really like about yourself and elaborate on each point. Think about the positive affect your strenghts, talents and gifts have on the people you love. SIXTH: Remove "noise" from your life. Noise can be your own negative self-talk or the negativity of people around you. When you talk to yourself, say "nice things!" When others tell you what you will or won't achieve - just mentally think "Watch Me!" I want you to be happy, healthy. successful and fulfilled. Life is too short to compare yourself to anyone!

"The only comparison worth making is to yourself from yesterday" We've all been there. Scrolling through social media, seeing someone's achievement, and feeling a pang of inadequacy. The comparison trap is a constant threat, especially early in our careers: - One person made a killing last year. - Another's a rising star, recognized by Forbes. - It seems like everyone else is winning. It's natural to compare ourselves, but it's a dangerous game. Here's the truth: you're likely comparing your Chapter 1 to someone else's epic finale. They've put in the years, the work, the failures that led to their success. Focus on your own story Instead of getting sucked into the comparison vortex, turn your attention inward. Ask yourself these powerful questions: What knowledge have I gained? Growth thrives on learning. Reflect on the new skills you've acquired, the information you've absorbed, and how they've shaped your perspective. What perspectives have I shifted? Growth often involves evolving your thinking. Acknowledge areas where your views have changed and celebrate the flexibility that allows you to learn and adapt. How have I grown? Growth isn't always a straight line. Take stock of your personal development, whether it's becoming more confident, building better habits, or simply feeling more comfortable in your own skin. What positive impact have I made? Contributing to something bigger is a fulfilling part of growth. Reflect on how you've used your skills and knowledge to make a difference for others. By focusing on these internal questions, you shift your focus from external validation to internal progress. This empowers you to take ownership of your journey and celebrate your unique path to success. Your only competition is yourself Life isn't a race against others. It's about becoming a better version of yourself each day. Focus on what you can control: your effort, your attitude, and your commitment to continuous improvement. Embrace the journey, celebrate your wins (big and small), and learn from your setbacks. By looking inward and focusing on your own growth, you'll find the motivation and fulfillment that comes from steady, sustainable progress. Ready to learn more? Share this post with others and follow me, Addy Osmani, for more insights in the future. Illustrated by Michael J Boorman - definitely worth a follow-up! #motivation #productivity #growth

It’s been said many ways. Can you spot the common theme? “Be humble. Stay hungry. Always hustle.” 🎙️ Brad Lomenick, leadership consultant and speaker. “Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room.” 🪨 Dwayne Johnson, actor and businessman. “Stay hungry, remain humble, and get better today.” 🏈 Pete Carroll, former head coach and executive VP of Seattle Seahawks. “The kind of people that all teams need are people who are humble, hungry, and smart.” 📚Patrick Lencioni, author. “Be humble, but stay hungry.” 📺 Steve Harvey, comedian, TV host, and author. “Stay hungry, stay humble.” 💻 Bill McDermott, chairman and CEO at ServiceNow. Be hungry and humble - the advice spans industries, disciplines, and generations. It means working hard (that’s the hungry part)... ...but not becoming enamored of your own effort (humility). It means admitting you don’t know everything (that’s the humble part)... ...but using that as a drive to learn more (staying hungry). How do you do it? Here are a few tips: 1. Build a Tribe of Mentors: 🏗 Surround yourself with people you respect, who know more than you, and who make you a better person. This will keep you humble and make you hungry for self-improvement. 2. Never Stop Learning. 🎓 Learning should be a lifelong process. It can be humbling to try and fail to master a new subject or skill. However, the process is also motivating as you see regular, incremental improvement that adds up over time. 3. Stay Curious: 📚 Related to the above, cultivate a mindset of intellectual curiosity. Explore new trends, technologies, and methodologies in your industry. Knowing how much you don’t know will keep you humble and hungry to learn more. 4. Set Team Goals and Celebrate Team Success: 🙌 Set goals as a group and recognize your team’s achievements rather than focusing solely on your own. 5. Never Forget Where You Came From: 🏡 Reflect on your journey and the people who helped you along the way. This keeps you both grounded and motivated to continue to press forward. 6. Admit and Learn From Mistakes: 🤦♂️ Acknowledge your errors—they’ll keep you humble. But also learn from them, and let that create a hunger to try again and do better. 7. Serve Others: 🤝 Engage in mentoring, volunteering, and other acts of service. Helping others fosters humility and the drive to give back some of what you have been given. Stay hungry and humble - it’s part of winning the right way. **** In this series, “Win the Right Way,” I discuss applied business ethics for achieving lasting impact. If you’d like to see more, follow and click the 🔔 to alert you when they post. #leadership #growth #mindset #ethics #WinTheRightWay