The Gremlin of Business Comparison

It’s been a rough week. You know those weeks…

One kid is throwing up and sick for a few days, then the baby gets sick and is throwing up the next few days, your husband starts not feeling well, the rest of the family still needs dinner and to be taken to school, then picked up from school, bills need to be paid… and all you’re doing is taking care of everyone else.

Basically, a week when all the personal crap that could possibly hit the fan does hit the fan. And your business takes a backseat.

You know what happens to me after one of those weeks? I feel like I’m letting myself down by not getting more business stuff done. And so, I get a nasty gremlin whispering in my ear.

One that is constantly comparing me and my business to other businesses and their awesome business-owning mothers:

• I see a website I haven’t seen before – and I swoon. “Oh why didn’t I think of that?”
• I read someone’s blog that hits home – and my heart sinks. “Why didn’t I write that?”
• I see everyone else’s successes – and I beat up on myself. “I’ve been in business longer than she has, why am I not rockin’ it that hard?”

Worst thing about this is gremlin is that it begins to feed on itself (this is kind of like getting a gremlin wet). You become obsessive about looking at other business owners’ stuff and thinking about what a piece of doo doo you are… and again, and again.

And so it grows into some sort of Godzilla-sized gremlin named “Earl the Eradicator” with a full gremlin army, and they’re knocking down buildings of sanity, clarity and level-headedness.

Gaining any traction when “Earl the Eradicator” and his army are wreaking havoc on everything you’ve built with your bare hands can take some time. But, mostly, it takes distance.

The next time you find yourself comparing yourself and your business to everyone else, walk away from the computer.

Stop opening your email. Or if you’re like me and have to be using your computer to work – disconnect the internet. It’s amazing how much one can get done without an internet connection.

Once you get a little distance (and maybe some sleep), things will automatically start to reframe and feel a little more like this…

• I see a website I haven’t seen before – and I swoon. “Well, is a fabulous website. I wonder how this part is working for them?”
• I read someone’s blog that hits home – and I am grateful. ‘Wow – how awesome that she shared that today, I really needed to hear it.”
• I see everyone else’s successes – and I am happy for them and motivated. “Sweet! Look at how awesome she’s doing. What’s one thing I can tweak in my business today to get to my next level?”

Comparison gremlins can get ugly fast. Try to cut off their fuel as soon as you can.

Have you faced a comparison gremlin before? How did you take your clarity and focus back?