Compare Yourself To Who You Were Yesterday, Not To Who Someone Else is Today

Have you ever found yourself caught in the trap of comparing your career progress to that of others? In the world of marketing and business development, where every milestone and metric is carefully scrutinized, it’s all too easy to look sideways and wonder if we measure up to our peers.

Recently, I revisited a chapter from Jordan B. Peterson’s “12 Rules for Life” that struck a chord with me, “Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.” It’s a simple yet profound message that resonates deeply in our competitive field.

Learning from mistakes actually takes a lot of courage. Because you have to analyze and think what went wrong in the first place. So, you again have to go through the same pain, but mentally this time, to analyze the mistakes. Ask yourself what you would require to be motivated to undertake the job, honestly and listen to the answer. Remember, that you have to be brutally honest with yourself.

Procrastination is the enemy. I have talked about this in my previous newsletter too. Why am I mentioning PROCASTINATION here, you might ask? Because it is one of the reason you are not progressing. Now, think of the book that you bought and left in the bookshelf for months. But what if I told you that reading books is so easy. You just have to pick it up and read. That’s it. You have to set intention and start. The only thing hard is STARTING.

The Upward Spiral and You

It is the habit you are forming each day that sets you apart from others. Even the small things in your daily routine counts as a part of your success. That’s the power of the upward spiral. You set small, achievable goals, celebrate your wins (no matter how small), and keep pushing forward. Here are some tips to get you started:

• Identify a goal: Maybe it’s learning a new skill, improving your time management, or simply being more patient.
• Start small: Don’t try to overhaul your entire life overnight. Take baby steps.
• Track your progress: Jot down your achievements, no matter how insignificant they seem.
• Celebrate your wins: Acknowledge your progress, big or small. You deserve it!

Remember, progress isn’t always linear. There will be setbacks. But by focusing on your own growth, you create a momentum that propels you forward. Trust me, the satisfaction of surpassing your own limitations is far more rewarding than any fleeting feeling of envy.

So, ditch the comparison game and focus on your own upward spiral. Let’s make yesterday the only competition we ever face.

What are you working on improving today? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Closing with my favorite line, “Put the things you can control in order. Repair what is in disorder, and make what is already a good better. It is possible that you can manage; if you are careful. People are very tough. People can survive through much pain and loss. But to persevere they must see the good in Being. If they lose that, they are truly lost.”