Hey friend,

Last week felt electric.

Momentum was flowing.

Clients were happy.

I was in full swing because:

✔️ 2 custom systems delivered for beta clients

✔️ Glowing testimonials

✔️ Improving new offers

✔️ Improving all marketing initiatives

✔️ Leveling up my mindset

✔️ Showing up fully in my job

Everything should’ve felt good. Really good.

And yes, on the surface, I was feeling ecstatic.

But inside?

Something was off.

A quiet sadness inside was nudging me over and over again.

So I paused.

I sat with these emotions and reflected.

And asked myself the uncomfortable question:

“Why does it feel like joy is missing… even when growth is here?”

The answer surprised me.

It wasn’t burnout.
It wasn’t a lack of clarity.
It wasn’t even overwork.

It was… comparison.

Yes, I was constantly asking myself... I am not there yet, as other online creators are growing.

I’m not making multi-figures like other creators are rocking online.

I was watching creators explode online.

And I started whispering to myself:

“You’re too slow.”

“You’re not growing like them.”

“You should’ve been further by now.”

Uff!

That small voice had gotten loud before I started noticing.

And suddenly, all the pride I felt in my real work?

It shrank under the weight of invisible timelines.

Why It Hurt So Much

Because I wasn’t comparing apples to apples.

Most of these stories I watched online?

→ Had mentors from day one.

→ Came from business families.

→ Had networks I only dreamed of.

→ Started in environments where this stuff wasn’t “new.”

Me?

I come from a village where online business isn’t even a dinner-table word.

No roadmap. No early advantages.

I started only with hunger and grit.

And still, I had the nerve to doubt myself?

Here’s the Real Cost of That Comparison

It wasn’t just emotional.

It was operational.

→ My focus was distracted.

→ My confidence was shaken.

→ My energy was scattered.

All the momentum I had… got quietly rerouted into watching others.

Instead of refining my strategy, I was doubting it.

Instead of building, I was benchmarking.

The Analogy That Made It Click

It’s like trying to bake a cake.

You mix the batter. Set the oven. Start baking.

But halfway through, you see someone’s cake already frosted on Instagram.

So you panic. Change your recipe. Turn up the heat.

You end up burning your own cake.

Comparison works the same way.

It makes you second-guess what was working, just because someone else finished sooner.

That’s what reminded me:

The fastest growth comes when you stop looking at everyone else and go all-in on you.

So this is my note to self. And maybe yours too:

🌱 Don’t compare your timeline

🌱 Don’t rush your process

🌱 Don’t let strangers on the internet set your pace

Mute the noise.

Anchor inward.

Build your way.

Because that’s where real growth begins and joy comes back home.

When you start observing the progress version of yourself

—

If you could give advice to your past self about comparison, what would you say?

Sumanpreet Kaur

Helping multi-role humans grow with systems, without the burnout spiral.

P.S.

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