compared to you

Be cautious of comparing yourself to those around you. While it’s an easy – and natural – thing to do, it doesn’t lead to fulfillment. You don’t gain anything by judging their chapter compared to your own. You don’t know what it took for them to get there, and you don’t know what their next step will be.

In LA, you often hear stories of people being “discovered” at random places, and that can feel disheartening, because why isn’t anyone discovering you? But in reality, these people are often hustling in the background and when their hard work and luck conspires, they are “found.”

When we judge ourselves based on others, we take away our own agency. We ask ourselves to be judged as a square peg when we are a round hole. It just isn’t a fair comparison!

The only thing you do have control over is where you are today.

The next time you find yourself judging and comparing yourself to someone, ask yourself what it took for them to get there. Put yourself in their shoes and realize it didn’t happen by chance.

And bonus, if it’s something you can do too, that’s great! Steal smart career moves. Use other people’s success to motivate and inspire you.

But don’t kick yourself down.

You have to find what makes you unique and special and discover your motivation for making art. Why did you start? Why do you continue? Figure out what you have to share, what’s your story, and your work will feel authentic and real.

Don’t worry about being humble or modest. Really look at your work and see what makes it you.

Then push and develop that.

In the words of Dr. Seuss, “Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” Use THAT to your advantage, and you’ll stand out from the crowd.

Then, you can compare yourself to who you were yesterday, who you are today, and who you want to be tomorrow… remember you’re the only person worth judging yourself by.

What makes you different?

How does your art stand out?

How can you combine those to make yourself unstoppable?