A student once asked me,
“Sir, why does everyone else seem to be doing better than me?”
I asked him,
“Compared to whom?”
He smiled.
Because he already knew the answer.
He had been comparing himself to people on LinkedIn.
Friends who had landed internships.
Classmates posting offer letters.
People celebrating promotions.
What he couldn’t see was the part of their journey they never posted.
The rejections.
The self-doubt.
The late nights.
The mistakes.
Comparison has a strange way of making us feel behind, even when we’re making progress.
You complete a certification.
Then you see someone who has completed five.
You get your first internship.
Then someone posts about an international internship.
You finally start speaking confidently.
Then you meet someone who seems naturally confident.
And suddenly, your own progress doesn’t feel like progress anymore.
Here’s what I’ve learned after working with students.
The ones who grow the fastest aren’t obsessed with what everyone else is doing.
They’re focused on one question:
“Am I better than I was last month?”
That’s the only comparison that really matters.
If you’re constantly looking sideways, you’ll miss how far you’ve already come.
Instead, pause for a moment.
Think about the version of yourself from a year ago.
Maybe you communicate better now.
Maybe you’ve learned new skills.
Maybe you’ve become more disciplined.
Maybe you’re simply more willing to try.
That’s growth.
Don’t ignore it.
A Small Challenge
Tonight, write down three ways you’ve improved in the last six months.
Not someone else.
Just you.
You’ll realize you’ve made more progress than you give yourself credit for.
Ready to Build Real Confidence?
Confidence doesn’t come from comparing yourself with others.
It comes from learning, practicing, and taking action consistently.
Join our Career Readiness Program and start building the skills—and confidence—that employers truly value.
Stop asking, “Am I better than everyone else?”
Start asking, “Am I better than I was yesterday?”
That’s where real confidence begins.
Interesting take on growth and progress. I’m reading this as mentorship talk that fits well with professionals refining skills in our field. In Suplery we focus on helping beauty businesses scale, from inventory to customer flow, so budding pros can stay in their zone and still grow. A pro tip I’d add: our platform can streamline stocktakes and real-time order building, which keeps the shop running smoothly even when you’re chasing bigger goals. If you’re in a barber shop or spa, Suplery can be a game changer for reliability and efficiency. My statement may be biased, but I’ve seen how a streamlined workflow fuels real progress. Suplery can be a must-use solution.