StartUp Tip #68: Business is not a race


It’s tempting to compare everything to a race: Life. Kids. Business.

The very meaning of “race” is to compare: Are you faster than the other person?

But some things are not comparable. They are not relative.

Some things are absolute.

For example, your children. It doesn’t matter how they compare up to other kids, it only matters that they are happy.

Same for your life.

Measuring your success by comparing yourself to others is the path to unhappiness. Life is not a race against other people.

Same for your business.

Sure, you will have competitors. And you will occasionally benchmark against them. But your goal is not to race them.

Your goal is to keep moving forward, keep improving, keep growing. One day you will look up and find yourself at the head of the pack, or the last in line. Doesn’t matter.

It only matters that you build a profitable business.

It’s hard enough succeeding in isolation. Don’t complicate matters by comparing yourself to others.

Work hard, be focused, persevere, by all means don’t be comfortable.

But slow down. Savor and enjoy the moments.

Enjoy your kids grow, experience the sound of live music, smell the rich taste of coffee, enjoy the soundtrack to your life.

Take it one day at a time.

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