The world of business moves at lightning speed. One day, you’re climbing the ladder of success with a marketing win, and the next – boom – someone else launches an almost identical campaign just before yours. Suddenly, you’re sliding down a snake of self-doubt, frustration, and that all-too-familiar “that was my idea!” feeling.
We’re told to hustle harder, innovate faster, and stay ahead at all costs. But this never-ending comparison game isn’t making you more successful; it’s keeping you stuck.
Once upon a time, I was trained to keep my eyes locked on the competition. To track their every move. To analyze, audit, and obsess over the slightest shifts in market share.
Here’s what they don’t tell you: when you spend all your time watching someone else’s success, you forget to build your own.
Comparison-itis creeps in like an unwelcome guest, whispering:
❌ Why are they growing faster than me?
❌ Why did they land that client, and I didn’t?
❌ What am I doing wrong?
And just like that, you’re frozen. Instead of taking action, you hesitate. You second-guess your next move, water down your creativity, and overthink every decision.
And worst of all? You stop trusting yourself.
The business landscape is evolving at breakneck speed. We risk spending so much time watching what everyone else is doing that by the time we actually make a move, the market has already shifted.
Yes, competition exists. But what if the real competition isn’t with others, it’s with who you were yesterday?
The greatest innovations don’t come from chasing someone else’s success; they come from doing things your way. So my biggest piece of advice right now?
Double Down on What Works for YOU.
What if you stopped chasing someone else’s version of success and doubled down on what works for you?
Not what’s trending.
Not what’s working for your competitor.
Not what a business guru told you was the only way to succeed.
What works for your strengths, your audience, your legacy.
Because what works for them might not work for you.
Maybe they thrive on staying on top of social media trends, but your business grows best through deep, personal connections.
Maybe they scale fast with paid ads, while your organic strategy builds long-term loyalty.
Maybe they work 24/7, but your best ideas come when you step away from the hustle.
When you focus on your path, your strengths, and your progress, you take back control.
Instead of feeling like you’re always behind, you start building momentum in a way that serves you.
The reality? Someone will always be ahead of you in some way. But that doesn’t mean your success is any less valid.
So here’s the challenge: audit yourself before you audit anyone else.
- Are you growing in sales, profit, and impact?
- Are you learning, evolving, and refining your craft?
- Are you focusing on what makes YOUR business unique?
Because when you stop chasing someone else’s flame like a moth heading towards disaster, you have the power to build a fire of your own. One that burns brightly, fuels your passion, and attracts the people who are meant to be in your world.
And who knows? While you’re busy watching them, they might just be looking at you thinking the exact same things.
Janine x