How many times do you compare your professional results to someone else’s? How many times have you started and stopped projects, chasing the proverbial squirrel to find the “magic” way to get ahead in your career or business?
Can you be happy when something fantastic happens for someone else in their career? Or do you feel envy? Usually also followed by a shrinking feeling? Oh, and throw in a dose of self-doubt for good measure. “I’ll never be able to achieve that.”
When it comes to success in business and career – it’s all about you and how well YOU “run YOUR own race.”
Just like a professional athlete you need to have a plan of how you are going to achieve what you want, then you work the plan. You don’t change up the plan daily or weekly; you stick with it. You’re consistent. You have a benchmark for your results, and then you try to improve on your results. The only person you compete against is YOU and YOUR results.
When you constantly take your eyes off the prize by looking at what someone else is doing, thinking “I should be doing that too,” you do three things:
One, you repeatedly stop your progress and momentum, and it takes longer (if ever) to see your results.
Second is that you squash your originality or authenticity. Your plan may have been much better than the one you are now tempted to mimic, but you’ll never know if you are always trying to copy someone else and what’s already being done.
The third is that you are instructing yourself to feel more self-doubt, that you or your plan isn’t good enough. Haven’t you had enough of that?
Instead, spend your valuable time getting clarity on what specifically you want to achieve and how you’re going to get it. Seek out the people who will support you to get it, and most importantly get moving.
Here are some tips to help you minimize distractions while running your own race:
- Have a clear plan, goal or strategy to get exactly what you want to achieve. Write it down. Break it down into actionable items so that you know what you need to be doing daily, weekly or monthly.
- Take a social media break, or if your business depends on it, get in and post and get out. Social media can create an illusion of success that doesn’t exist.
- Find a mastermind group or accountability buddies. They will help keep you on track and grounded when you want to chase the next bright shiny They can also give you feedback and help you brainstorm.
- Measure your progress. You need to know how you’re doing to know if your plan is working.
- Focus on you and a positive mindset. Pay attention to what you listen to, watch and read. Make sure you are incorporating self-care.
Remember, the next time you want to compare yourself to someone else; they are running their race; you need to run yours.
See you at the finish line!
Debbie Peterson is a Keynote Speaker, Seminar Leader and Mindset Expert who works with executives and professionals to develop more confidence and clarity in their career experience. She has educated and inspired corporations, charitable organizations, and professionals to create the personal mindset necessary to produce consistent professional results. You can find her at Debbie@GettingToClarity.com or http://www.gettingtoclarity.com.
