Are you suffering from comparisonitis?

Do you find yourself constantly checking what your peers or competitors are up to on Facebook?

Do you read their website copy and think they’ve got it all worked out?

Do you dread bumping into them at networking events because they always seem so perky, so well put together and glowing (if not gloating) that their business is doing fabulously well?

Do you secretly say to yourself “why bother?” because everyone seems to be so far ahead of you in this game of business?

If you’ve answered yes to any one of these questions, you’re probably suffering from a crippling disease affecting many entrepreneurs: it’s called comparisonitis.

Women are particularly susceptible to this disease but more evolved and sensitive guys can catch it too!

Watch out because it’s highly contagious – you only have to mention to one of your entrepreneurial buddies another success story you’ve just heard and they could catch it too.

Here are some of symptoms to watch out for:

• Constantly looking at a competitor’s website
• Copywriting jealousy
• Wishing your graphics were as good as theirs
• Wanting to copy their program titles
• Stalking their every move on social media
• Not really wanting to copy them but secretly wishing you could (it’d be so much easier than trying to do it yourself)
• Spending too much time looking at their flawless photos (surely that's Photoshopped?)

Comparisons can be crippling to both your self-esteem and to your bank account. The truth is the time spent envying someone else’s business is not time spent building your own.

Here are 3 tips to turn your back on comparisonitis:

1. Remember that it’s easy to create an illusion of success these days with websites, social media and a good online presence. And often that’s all it may be – just an illusion. You can’t possibly know what’s going on behind the scenes and it’s typically never as pretty as it looks from the outside. A great litmus test is that truly successful people will be generous in sharing both their successes and mistakes. If they tell you that everything is coming up roses in their garden, you can be pretty sure it's not.
2. The best comparisons are the ones you make with yourself. By all means look to others for inspiration and to see what’s possible for you. But the best yardstick of progress is to measure yourself against where you started, where you are now, and where you want to be. If you’re not progressing quickly enough then it might be time to hire a mentor or coach to move things along.
3. “Be yourself – after all everybody else is already taken”. The world is a big place and there is plenty of work to go around. What the world doesn’t need another cookie cutter solution. What it needs are your unique gifts, passion, personality, and voice in making a difference – and nobody can copy that from you.

Once you start to shine more brightly in your business, you’ll have others suffering from comparisonitis – but the good thing is that you’ll be far too busy to care.

ARE YOU READY TO BE BOLD & PLAY BIGGER?

Our zone of genius is helping ambitious entrepreneurs and business leaders earn more income, make a bigger impact, and enjoy greater freedom. If you have big bold goals of running a 6- or 7-figure business and you are ready to get out of your own way then you have come to the right place. Our Business Growth Academy Programs will help you build a profitable business and a life you love. Schedule a quick business brainstorm session with one of our strategists.