6/3/25
TED Talk Tuesday: Comparison is the Thief of Joy (And Productivity)
Let’s be brutally honest.
You ever scroll through someone else’s shop, see their post blow up, or watch them sell out in seconds—and suddenly everything you’ve made feels like garbage?
Yep. Been there. Multiple times. Usually while eating snacks and contemplating my life choices.
But here’s the reality check:
Comparison is a liar.
And worse? It’s a thief. It doesn’t just mess with your head. It steals your creativity, your confidence, and every ounce of motivation you had before the scroll spiral began.
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You don’t know their full story.
You don’t know if they’ve been grinding since 2013, or if they just got lucky with a viral reel. You don’t know if their cousin runs a marketing agency. Or if they’re crying over a jammed printer every other night.
Maybe they’re talented and exhausted.
Maybe they’ve failed 10 times before this one win.
Maybe they’re just good at hiding the hard stuff.
And yet, here you are… comparing their highlight reel to your real life and feeling like you’re behind.
You’re not.
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Stay in your lane (seriously).
You’ve got your own journey. Your own people. Your own voice.
And the more time you spend peeking into someone else’s success, the less time you spend creating your own.
Comparison won’t make you better.
But showing up? That will.
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What actually works:
Consistency. Show up. Keep going. Even when it’s quiet.
Curiosity. Keep learning. Keep exploring. Stay open.
Authenticity. Nobody does you better than you.
What doesn’t work? Trying to copy someone else just because it worked for them. That road leads straight to burnout.
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Final Reminder:
💬 Your pace is still progress.
💬 Your style is still valid.
💬 Your path is still powerful—even if it looks different.
And if you ever forget that?
I’ll be here to remind you—probably while holding a coffee and yelling at a squirrel in my garden.