Entrepreneurial Spring Fever#4 - Comparisonitis
March 28th, 2008 by Liz Fuller
This week I’ve been discussing the various symptoms of Entrepreneurial Spring Fever - an illness that runs rampant this time of year as thousands of previously satisfied entrepreneurs start to feel vaguely dissatisfied with their businesses and their lives.
So far I’ve discussed restlessness, lack of focus and impatience - all slightly uncomfortable symptoms that with proper care and treatment can actually help you improve your business and life satisfaction.
However, today’s symptom - comparisonitis is much more troubling.
When plagued with this symptom which involves comparing your business, your life and your self unfavorably with others - many Women Entrepreneurs find themselves disheartened and discouraged.
Suddenly it seems that everyone else is having more success, making more money, creating better balance and influencing more people.
With this perspective, it is hard not to slide into feeling dissatisfied, disappointed and discouraged.
When this starts to happen, it’s important to remember that dissatisfaction with the status quo is a key motivator to creating change.
All of those great plans you’ve made won’t get done, if you don’t feel enough dissatisfaction with the way things are today.
Change is hard, even when it is for the better.
In order to have the energy and discipline to follow through on your plans and create the business and the life that you imagine, you have to first be dissatisfied with the life you already have.
So, instead of allowing your comparisons with others to discourage you - use them to encourage you.
Consider the idea that “if they can do it - so can you!”
You wouldn’t have come as far as you have if you weren’t intelligent, creative and resourceful.
You might not have all the skills you need - but you can either learn what you need to know or find someone else to compensate for what you lack.
Those people with whom you are comparing yourself, have their own shortcomings that they are dealing with - perhaps even some of the same challenges that you are facing. They found ways to get around their challenges - and so can you.
So now, when you see a successful person who seems to be living the life of your dreams - don’t kick yourself for not having achieved all of their success - instead open your eyes to see what you can learn from them, apply the lessons to your own situation and achieve your own dreams.
What people or situations do you compare yourself with?
How do you avoid feeling discouraged by the accomplishments of others?
What encourages you?
photo credit: MegElizabeth
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This entry was posted on Friday, March 28th, 2008 at 5:40 am and is filed under motivation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
April 2nd, 2008 at 10:03 am
I’ve run into this at home with comparisons to others. There is ALWAYS somebody that seems to be in a better situation and it’s really not possible to “keep up” if we keep that mental process going.
April 9th, 2008 at 2:30 am
Great stuff, Liz. Comparison sucks because while you’re mainly thinking about how you compare against somebody else, that somebody else is fixed on kicking butt at: __________, which gradually and quickly makes you even worse off as time flies by.
April 9th, 2008 at 7:56 am
Scott,
Good point - comparing ourselves to others does take a lot of mental energy that we could be spending on improving our own situation.
Liz
April 9th, 2008 at 7:59 am
Andrew
This is a really great point - instead of focusing on improving our shortcomings to be average - we could be focusing on increasing our strengths to be amazing!
(and it’s probably also true that there is somebody else comparing themselves against us and wishing they were that accomplished on something we take for granted!!)
April 30th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Just shows that you can never have enough money, once you reach a target, you want more….
May 6th, 2008 at 7:38 pm
Great comments! It’s easy to compare ourselves to others rather than focus on us–the internal work is the hardest. Fortunately, it’s also the most productive.
I love your writings here–there is some very good information that supports the hearts and spirit of women entrepreneurs. I will be sure to feature you on my blog so my audience can enjoy your work also. Thanks for the contribution you’re making to supporting and empowering women entrepreneurs!
Vicki Flaugher
May 7th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Hi Vicki
Thanks for your comments - and good luck on your new blog!!
Liz
May 21st, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I never get discouraged by the accomplishments of others but instead springboard off the success of other people: I think, if them then why not me, too? I enjoy reading success stories and always seek to emulate without actually imitating.
June 29th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Very valid post Liz. I remember reading a book called ‘Thinking Body, Dancing Mind; Taosports in Business.
The book was all about successful atheletes and business people and how they achieved success.
In all of the cases, the successful persons:
1. Believe in themselves, but were excited to learn
2. Were not caught in the moment, always looking into the future of things
3. Stay motivated and looked at their own game and not others
4. Respected others, but always had the idea of accomplishment on their mind.
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:55 am
When I start comparing myself to others I always sort my head out by acknowledging that they probably have the same thoughts.
Noone ever has everything they want. Everyone can always get better.
July 15th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Spring symptoms?…. here I am in July and still feeling the same way. That feeling that I can do it because so many others have done it has really helped me a lot in the past as well. Maybe it is just becasue I am a sheep, meaning that I feel most comfortable going places that others have done before.
Still looking forward to more posts on this blog.
July 17th, 2008 at 9:42 am
actually I think the same way as zowoco.. it’s inspiring..