How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Others: The Curse of Comparison

Designing a line can be intimidating, especially when you’re entering an oversaturated market like fashion. Learning how to stop comparing yourself to others starts with an awareness of identity. Focusing on the competition’s “highlight reels” will distort your perspective and leave you feeling unworthy, frustrated, and discouraged.

I remember when I first experienced the curse of comparison. I was working for a small fashion brand– it was one of those hectic “roll up your sleeve” work environments. I only had two other coworkers and I was given a vague “assistant coordinator” title which basically meant I had to wear 50 million hats and help out whenever the rest of the team fell short. Since my role was so ambiguous, I started to covet my coworker’s more niche roles. They were hired two years before me and they were much more established and aware of their strengths. Even though they started off as general as I did, their skillsets blossomed over time. Since my role didn’t have a true identity, I inwardly compared my performance to my coworkers’ “highlight reel” without realizing that it took them years to get there.  I coveted their contributions so much that I failed to cultivate my own. This is what many entrepreneurs do. In the Instagram Age, it’s pretty hard not to notice what your competition is doing, and it’s even harder to remember that we’re looking at others’ highlight reels. So, how do we stop the vicious cycle? Learning how to stop comparing yourself to others is a key skill that’s often overlooked in business.

How to Stop Comparing Yourself To Others in Business

Walk in Your Identity (Know Who You Are and What You Have to Offer)

What if I told you that God wants to use your ideas to propel you into your purpose? I believe that God created each of us to fulfill a unique calling here on Earth. You were born to birth something that only YOU can bring to life. Start to think of your business from a larger perspective, as a contribution to society.

If your company doesn’t have a distinct mission, then how will you ever stand out from the competition? Many entrepreneurs start out with a strong vision, but over time they water it down to keep up with what all the other seemingly successful brands are doing. It’s wise to stay updated on competitive trends, but you don’t want to get too wrapped up and lose sight of your identity.

This is why prayer and meditation are key as a business owner. Setting aside a few quiet moments each day helps you tune into God’s voice. Believe it or not, he cares about you AND your business. He’s always speaking. He wants to give us wisdom and strategy for the day, but it’s up to us to silence the noise and pay attention! Prayer keeps us centered and refocuses us on OUR unique vision.

Move in Excellence (Be GREAT at What You Do)

Once you establish your mission, it’s time to hone it into excellence. Know what you have to offer and do it well! Honing your strengths and effectively serving your target customer will leave you less time to look over at your competition’s achievements.

Embracing Our Unique Abilities Promotes Unity Instead of Comparison

Remember, comparing your business to someone else’s will never get you where you want to be. Healthy comparison brings inspiration instead of competition.

You are beautifully and wonderfully made and so is your business. 🙂 (Psalms 139:14)

Fashion Angel Warrior

So let’s agree to stop the curse of comparison! Who’s with me? Comment below “I AM!”

For more business mindset tips, check out our Fashion Biz Foundation Course and check out our Fearless Fashionpreneur Facebook Group.