Your Competition is You

I spent years comparing myself to other writers.

Their subscriber counts. Their book deals. Their speaking gigs.

It made me miserable and kept me from doing my best work.

Then I realized something that changed everything: they're not my competition. I am.

The Comparison Trap

Every creator falls into this. You see someone killing it in your space and think, "I could do that better." Maybe you're right. But while you're busy judging their work, they're busy creating more of it.

I used to scroll through successful newsletters thinking about how mine was more thoughtful, better written, more useful. You know what I wasn't doing? Writing my newsletter.

Comparison is the creativity killer. It turns productive energy into resentment. It makes you focus on what others are doing instead of what you should be doing.

The Real Competition

Your biggest obstacle isn't some other creator with more followers. It's the voice in your head that says:

• "You're not good enough yet"
• "Someone else already covered this topic"
• "Why bother when so-and-so does it better?"
• "You don't have anything unique to say"

That voice will find every reason why you shouldn't create, shouldn't ship, shouldn't try.

The other creators you admire? They have the same voice. The difference is they told it to shut up and did the work anyway.

What I Learned in the Military

When I was in the Air Force, I had troops who would tell me what I was asking them to do was impossible.

My response was always the same: "If you can't go around it, over it, or under it, then you have only one option left. Go through it."

Problems don't disappear because you're discouraged. They don't care about your feelings. The only way problems change is if you actively engage them and solve them.

The Mindset Shift That Works

Instead of looking at successful creators as competitors, start seeing them as proof of what's possible.

• Study what they're doing right - How do they structure their content? What problems are they solving?
• Support their work - Share their stuff. Buy their products. Learn from them.
• Find your own angle - Don't copy them. Use their success as inspiration to find your unique approach.

When someone in your space succeeds, the market grows. Their success creates more demand for what you do, not less.

My Dad's Worry Advice

My father gave me advice about worry that applies perfectly here:

"Can you change it right now? If the answer is no, then don't worry about it. Focus on the solution, not the problem. If the answer is yes, then don't worry about it. Just change it."

Somebody else's subscriber count? Can't change it. Don't worry about it. Your own content quality? You can change it. So get to work.

The Two Voices

Everyone has two voices in their head:

Voice 1: "You're not ready. You don't know enough. Someone else is already doing this better."

Voice 2: "You have something valuable to share. People need your perspective. Start where you are."

Which voice you listen to determines everything.

The successful creators you admire? They amplified voice two and told voice one to sit down. You can do the same thing.

What Actually Matters

Instead of tracking other people's metrics, track these:

• Are you creating consistently?
• Are you helping people solve real problems?
• Are you getting better at your craft?
• Are you building relationships with your audience?

Those are the only competitions that matter. And you're the only participant.

Your Next Step

Stop following the creators who make you feel bad about your own progress. Unfollow, unsubscribe, mute.

Find one creator who inspires you instead of intimidating you. Study what they do well. Then create something in your own voice.

The world doesn't need another version of them. It needs the first version of you.

You're more capable than you think. You have more to offer than you realize. But you have to stop competing with shadows and start competing with your yesterday self.

Are you better today than you were last week? That's the only competition that counts.

Thanks for reading!

Hi, I'm Joe. I help creators share their unique voices simply and effectively. Here's how I can help you:

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