3 Ways to Stop Comparing Yourself to Other Solopreneurs
How to break free from comparison culture and show up as your best self.
Does this sound familiar?
You are just starting out in your business, navigating your next level of growth, or feeling stuck and unsure about how to get where you want to be, so you look to the people who are ahead of you to find inspiration and direction.
Instead of creativity, you start to feel a deep sense of uneasiness in your stomach and the dull ache of self-doubt.
This can be hard to admit, but it’s a very common problem for solopreneurs. There isn't always a blueprint for what you’re doing with your business, and it’s only natural to look at leaders and mentors who are further along.
There is a tremendous amount of value in learning from others and avoiding the unnecessary mistakes in your business journey that will cost you time, money and resources. However, this comparison can quickly, but subtly, become toxic when we compare our step 1 to someone else’s step 20. You never know how long it took them to get to where they are today!
This desire for inspiration can easily take a dark turn when it blocks your creativity, causes you to miss opportunities right in front of you, and derails you from your own unique journey. What you see from other business owners only scratches the surface of everything they are doing behind the scenes.
If you are ready to break the chains of comparison culture, here are 3 ways you can stay focused on your own journey and show up as your best self.
1. Do a Social Media Purge
Social media is full of people posting their best moments and success stories, but it does not paint a full picture of everyone’s lives. It is all too easy to go down a rabbit hole of comparing yourself to others while scrolling for ideas and inspiration.
Your desire to see what everyone else is doing can easily distract you from your own personal business goals. Take time to notice how you feel after going to social media for ideas. Did you find inspiration, or do you feel more discouraged, distracted, and like you are behind?
If seeing someone’s successes on social media makes you feel uneasy, tense or jealous, simply unfollow or mute them. This has nothing to do with them, and everything to do with you.
Being able to celebrate someone else's success without feeling like it takes away from your own requires healing and reflection, and removing triggers is the first step in that process.
In order to protect your peace, you need to keep your blinders on and focus on what’s right in front of you. When you get to a place in which you can celebrate with them instead of feeling stuck, then you can follow them again.
2. Work On Your Confidence
Having confidence in yourself is often the missing piece in your journey to reach your greatest potential.
When you are confident in yourself and what you are doing, it won't matter as much what other people are doing. You will be able to clap for another soloprenneur’s success instead of wondering what you are doing wrong.
When you lack confidence, you will feel like an imposter in your business. When you don't see your value, you won’t charge your worth, show up for yourself, or create what you are capable of.
Working on your confidence will take time, and may involve going to therapy, rewriting your inner narrative, and finding resources such as The Confidence Podcast to do the internal work that is required to change your view of yourself.
Think of confidence as a skill that you need to practice in order to take your business to its next level of growth.
3. Get Clear On Your Vision
If you are in the habit of constantly looking outside of yourself for direction, it’s because you don’t feel clear about what you’re doing.
If you aren't confident about your vision, goals and unique value, you may be trying to emulate someone else’s path to success. Again, while looking for guidance from a mentor is helpful, your journey is going to look different from everyone else’s.
When you know who you are, what you want, and what your strengths are, it doesn’t matter what other business leaders are doing differently.
What do you want for yourself and for your business?
Get clear on where you are going and how you will get there, and remember that your journey is going to be unique to you.
We all fall into the cycle of comparison if we’re not careful. If you are feeling stuck in your business, ask yourself if it could be because you are looking for answers outside of yourself.
Breaking this cycle takes time, and repairing the relationship you have with yourself is not a linear process. That is why it is so important that you remove triggers when they arise, grow into your most confident self and stay focused on your end goal.
When you are confident and happy, you will be able to celebrate the successes of others in an authentic and genuine way. Your joy will be contagious, and it will spread to every area of your business.
When you erase comparison from your story, you make room for growth and abundance because you will be able to show up as your best self.
To learn more, listen to the Solopreneur Hustle Podcast episode Stop Comparing Yourself to Others here!