Running my own race.

Running my own race requires me to focus on my own lane. My own progress. My own score. I can’t worry about what the person in the lane next to me is doing. Their actions are irrelevant.

Wait. Let me back up.

Its relevance only matters, if I allow it to.

My choice. Always my choice.

When I say ‘running’, I don’t mean the literal sense. Like on a running track or anything. I’m by no means a runner. I mean metaphorically, in life.

I’ll be the first to admit, this is hard.

Somedays it’s really hard.

A horse often wears blinkers during a race. It is to help minimize distraction so the horse can focus its attention on what’s in front, not the sides or behind. Focus on the task. The goal.

It’s own race.

Similar to the horse with its blinkers secured, I too must focus on my own race.

I set my pace.

I set my goal.

I know my limits.

And remember my Why. Always remember my Why.

So. Imagine my surprise one day when I caught myself feeling down because I felt ‘less than’ someone else. This surprised me because I am genuinely happy for other people. I admire their success. Their progress. I respect their effort.

Ugggg, It felt awful. I felt awful.

To add fuel to the ‘woe is me’ fire, this was someone I respect and admire. This person is doing similar work as me. Really good work.

So, why did it matter if her social media post received 100+ likes, and mine didn’t? She’s earned every one of those likes. She’s good at what she does. Exceptional, actually. That’s why I respect her. She’s got a ton of street cred.

And then – as if right on queue – a wisdom bolt hit me and jolted me from my moment of less than inadequacy. This bolt came from a fellow entrepreneur who shared this wisdom nugget during a group video conference call attended by 20+ fellow entrepreneurs, “Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”

And click.

There it was. In plain view.

Comparison.

That no-good nasty belittling friend that deserves neither my time nor attention.

I had never heard this quote before that moment. Or perhaps I did, and it just wasn’t my time to hear it. That’s often how wisdom nuggets find you. When you’re ready.

Since then, I’ve heard it repeatedly. I guess it’s a well-known motivational quote from Jon Acuff, a New York Times Bestselling author and motivational speaker.

Once I pulled on that inadequacy thread and unraveled enough to reveal the impetus of this feeling, it was as obvious as the big dipper in a clear night sky. I was simply comparing my beginning to her middle.

Silly me.

How often do we let Comparison into our happy little worlds? Allow Comparison to creep in – without invitation – and steal our joy, erode our worth. Allow Comparison to diminish our experience, our ability, our effort, our achievements.

Our beginning is just that.

A beginning.

Our race is just starting.

I understand that I do not exist in a vacuum. There is – and always will be – a thousand moving parts and people orbiting my existence. But instead of comparing myself to someone else who has years of experience – and has made incredible progress in her business – I will continue to admire her for sharing her wisdom and experience with me. With all of us. One nugget at a time.

My journey is evolving, as does hers. As does yours.

Growing. Learning.

I will run my own race.

At my own pace.

No more comparing.

Ready. Set. Goal.

And repeat.

Here we go!!

With gratitude, always

Nicole Osmond

Customer Success Coach

As a Customer Success Coach and 3 X business owner, I am living my passion and helping companies succeed by cultivating a customer committed mindset.

A Writer with Heart – I weave words together to stimulate, elevate, and motivate. My blog is my canvas to share my ‘experience nuggets’ with you! Thanks for stopping by! With gratitude, always – Nicole