I tend to subscribe to the personal belief system that comparing myself to other people and other situations is not good for me—but when it comes to operating a business, it can be hard not to try to keep up with what other businesses are doing. After all, isn’t that what competition and paying attention to the market trends are all about. Still, I have read some experts who say that focusing on competition isn’t necessary in business and that if we just tend to our own shelves, things will go better. What do you think?
I am not an overly competitive person by nature, but I do like to know where I fit into the grand scheme of things. I need personal goals and I need to set expectations for myself when it comes to my work and business efforts. I do know that I respond better to goals I set for myself rather than ones that are established for me by some outside entity, but I also do respond to deadlines, contests, and quotas. I often cannot help but want to compare myself to someone else in order to gauge my work.
Personally, however, I’ve learned a great deal over the years about NOT comparing my life to others or looking over the fence to see if that grass really is greener. Can you see my dilemma? I am quite certain I am not alone here since I’ve had similar conversations with colleagues in person about how much comparison and competition is good, and when does it actually distract us and keep us from focusing on our own “game?”
With my type of business, I really don’t have anyone to compare myself to—my motivation really needs to be self-generated and if I read too many of those “success” articles about people who started out in their garage and recently sold a $2 billion company, I get downright depressed. What about you? Where do you stand on comparison—does it help keep you motivated, or hurt?
Also: Keeping it Small on Purpose
Are Your Standards Too High or Unattainable?
Who Can You Blame When the Ball Gets Dropped?