5 Steps To Avoid Envy In Your Career

“Comparison is the thief of joy.” —Theodore Roosevelt


 


Your decision is clear—you’re going make your imprint in your
industry. You work hard, do your research, and put yourself out
there. Feeling great, you think, “I’ve got this!” Then, you watch
as someone else brilliantly outshines you, and think, “I could
never be that good, so why bother.” Deflated, you begin
questioning your goals, and start wondering if you should try a
different route to success.


 


Has this happened to you? It happens to me nearly every time I
watch someone deliver (what looks like) a flawless speech. It
doesn’t matter whether I’m watching them on YouTube, in a small
gathering, or on a giant stage. In fact, it doesn’t even matter
if they speak on a totally different topic.


 


Watching his ridiculously powerful stage presence, I found it
difficult to stop analyzing the way he told his stories long
enough to even appreciate how Dan Barber fell in love with a
fish. Fortunately, I caught myself and was able to appreciate
both his content and soak up his story-telling brilliance. 
 


 


It’s a love-hate relationship I have with talented speakers. I
love their talent, passion, and dedication to the craft, but I
also hate dealing with the inner monologue they prompt. Before I
get a chance to appreciate their perspective, my internal
monologue starts convincing me…


 


"They’re already doing everything you want to do—and so much
better—so what’s the point? Quit now. Go find something to focus
on, where you can be the best." Of course, that doesn’t exist,
and fortunately there will always be someone whose brilliance can
help us develop and improve.


 


Seriously though, why should I bother stirring up enthusiasm,
productivity, and provoking greatness… across generations, when
Eric Chester and Jason Dorsey are kicking some major butt out
there? Seriously, their dedication, commitment, passion, and
performance are top-notch. Hire them, and your audience will walk
away not only more knowledgeable, but motivated.  


 


Here are a few other remarkable speakers who have prompted my
“Why bother” monologue: Dr. Nido Qubein, Brené Brown, Seth Godin,
Mark Scharenbroich, Lou Heckler. Of course, it’s not like we pick
mediocre people to compare ourselves to—No, we chose
award-winning superstars who consistently and courageously work
at their craft.


 


Ready to break free of the debilitating effect of such paralyzing
comparisons, the following five steps aid greatly in remaining
focused on moving your own ball forward:   
Notice and Acknowledge your thoughts. Please, do yourself a
favor and avoid trying to hide, fade, or fix them. What we resist,
persists. Simply begin to notice what you’re telling yourself. Get
Curious. With the curiosity of a 5-year-old that has to know why,
why, why, become curious about the nature of the conversation going
on inside your head. Defuse your storyline. Rather than allow
yourself to get caught up in self-judgment, consider literally
saying to yourself, “Isn’t that interesting. I wonder where that
thought comes from.” This allows you to remove the "good/bad,
right/wrong" of the stories you're telling yourself. Remember where
you started (or, are starting) and keep perspective on YOUR growth.
Or, as Brene Brown suggested, “Stay in your own lane,” when she
shared about her competitive nature in swimming. Act anyway. Keep
practicing, keep learning, and keep sharing your passions,
especially when that voice creeps in. Otherwise, we risk the
possibility of allowing our fears to ruin our dreams.

 


Repeat these steps over and over again as you bare silent witness
to the magic of the process. And, remember: it's never about
being the best, but giving your best every single day. As don
Miguel Ruiz says, "Your best is different every day." Honor YOUR
journey, listen, be curious, and keep moving your ball forward.


 


"To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be
accepted by others. You need to accept yourself."


 


― Thich Nhat Hanh


 


Here’s to Your Greatness,


 


Misti Burmeister


 


NEW! Ready to reconnect to the excitement of—


 


—Your work/career


—Leading your team


—Growing your bottom line, along with your people?


 


Grab your 40 minute Gearing for Greatness session with Misti
today—http://mistiburmeister.com/GearingForGreatness


 


“Working with Misti Burmeister will be one of the best decisions
you have ever made as a leader. She helped me integrate new
behaviors and thought processes to bolster my overall leadership
presence.” –Kevin Frick, Professor and Dean, Johns Hopkins Carey
School of Business