The Art of Competing and NOT Comparing Yourself

Competing and comparing seem to go hand in hand. He's faster. She's smarter. I'm funnier. However, if you peel back and think about competition - you're really only ever competing against yourself and what you've done before. Comparing ourselves is the baggage we have placed into the competition  - all on our own (or perhaps with the help of some old experience we can't seem to let go of).

 Today at boot camp I had my competitive "aha" moment. We were doing relays and I will admit, I was anxious as I think of myself as the one who might hold the team back. Recently though, I've been reading and buying into the fascination factor that Sally Hogshead shared with us at my RF convention. I decided that today I would not be the one to hold back my team. I was nothing, if not enthusiastic to do my part. That simple mind shift led me to a place I have not embraced before.

The place was competing and not comparing for the first time ever! I was so focused on the task at hand and doing MY best that I didn't have time to think about being the slowest, who was quicker, had better form, how cute someone's shoes were - I was in the zone with just me. UNTIL I was neck in neck with the girl next to me as we're lunging backwards in the first relay race. When she kicked it at the end, the competitor came out and I kicked it into HIGH gear, too. What happened next felt so good and was so much fun, I don't think I could go back to the way I used to compete - it's just no fun to compare. We high fived each other after each leg and though we kept our eyes on each other the whole rest of the class- I focused on what I could do, using her as a motivator. It was awesome! Then it dawned on me...I need to do this in my life both personally and professionally. For the first time I was present in the moment where I didn't compare myself to her...I used her as an incentive to PUSH MYSELF!

Perhaps I am behind you all in figuring this out. Or maybe, you're like me and you've sat like a deer in headlights because you thought "I can't do that...not like her anyway....why even bother trying."
We compare ourselves to the detriment of ,well, ourselves. Stop focusing on other's successes - they don't need your help...YOU need your help!

We need to be in the zone by ourselves - to focus on our own skills. We are unique. We are FASCINATING in some way that no one else is. Play in that space, the space where you excel and figure out how to make that work as your COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. When you stop comparing, all of a sudden everything becomes clear and you start to grow, stretch and WIN!

What else can I say? The art of competing and not comparing is one I want to master. This feels right, it feels good and I want more.