Have you ever run in a big community road race? You know the ones I’m talking about. They often have names like “Race For The Cure”, “Memorial Day Fun Run”, “Blue Ridge 5K”, etc. When you participate in these events, with whom do you compete? If you’re like most of my friends who do these, the answer is typically, “Myself.” And that strikes me as entirely the right answer.
When we are at work and striving to do our best, why do we insist on comparing ourselves to everyone else around us? Why do we find it so difficult to compete only with ourselves?
A few years ago, a ventriloquist friend of mine became extremely sick with an infection. He asked me to fill in for him at an event where he was booked to perform. This was an annual event he had been doing for many years. I was honored to cover for him. When I got to the event, it was clear that my friend had attained rock star status with the people there. That’s when my mind started spinning. How could I do this? These people love my friend. My act is very different. Would they throw things at me?
I was sharing the stage with another entertainer. He realized I was starting to freak out. He gave me a piece of advice to calm me down. He said, simply, “Do your show.” In other words, don’t try to be my friend, don’t try to mimic him. Just do my show – the one my friend knew I was capable of doing, the show that caused my friend to have the confidence to ask me to cover for him.
Such a simple concept. And yet many of us struggle with it.
Do your own show. Run your own race. Do your own work.
The next time you start to compare yourself against those around you, pause, look in the mirror, and acknowledge the competitor that matters the most.