Comparison Is a Full-Time Job (And You’re Already Over It)
😩 They’re Not Better, They’re Just Louder
Let’s be honest.
Most folks don’t quit online business because they’re hopeless.
They quit because they run themselves into the ground trying to keep up with everyone else’s circus act.
It usually starts small:
“I’ll just peek at how she’s doing her funnel…”
“Maybe I should rework my homepage, again…”
“Wait, he’s got a podcast AND a YouTube AND a TikTok channel…”
And suddenly you’ve spent another day running someone else’s race.
The Comparison Spiral Isn’t Research
I’ve done it too.
One time I rebuilt an entire sales page because some marketer I followed launched a “shinier” one.
The results?
3 weeks of wasted time
2 headaches that laughed at Tylenol
0 extra sales
And here’s the kicker: their launch bombed anyway.
Everyone’s highlight reel looks polished. But it’s still just a reel. Not real.
What I Wish Someone Told Me Sooner
There’s a huge difference between learning and losing yourself.
Scrolling through other people’s feeds feels like “research,” but it’s usually just fear in a party dress.
You scroll because:
You’re worried your thing isn’t “good enough.”
You think pro-looking graphics are what make people buy.
You believe more ideas will solve the problem when fewer decisions would actually do the trick.
Spoiler: copying someone ahead of you is the fastest way to fall behind.
Do This Instead (The Anchor Framework)
Here’s the simple filter I use, and it works even if you’re brand new and juggling life, work, and bills:
A — Assess Your Energy
Before you click anything, ask:
Am I hunting for ideas or hiding from my next step?
Does this scroll inspire me or make me feel like dirt?
If it’s the second one, slam the laptop shut.
N — Name One Next Step
Not five. Not a 90-day roadmap. One.
Examples:
Write the first three lines of your welcome email.
Link your opt-in form to your thank-you page.
Share one tip on social. No Canva, no ring light, just hit post.
Momentum lives in micro-moves.
✉️ C — Create Before You Consume
Do your thing first, even if it’s rough.
Then, if you really must, peek at what others are doing. You’ll process it way differently when you’ve already taken action.
The Bit Nobody Mentions
Those “effortless” creators you compare yourself to?
They’ve got:
A VA screening their inbox
A designer polishing their reels
A launch budget that’d make you spit out your coffee
They’re not better. They’re better resourced.
Big difference.
🪨 The Note That Changed Everything
I stuck a Post-it on my laptop once that said:
“Nobody else sets my pace.”
It saved me from scrap-and-start cycles.
It stopped me from chasing someone else’s fake “milestones.”
And it reminded me that the only thing that actually matters is staying in motion on my stuff.
And here’s the truth: you’re already doing more right than you give yourself credit for. But it doesn’t count if you keep deleting your progress because someone else looks flashier.
Pin This Somewhere You’ll See It
“Comparison is content that costs you clarity.”
Let them keep up with their noise.
You keep up with your moves.
That’s where your leverage lives.
💬 Let’s Keep It Real
Where do you get caught in the comparison trap most? (Reply and tell me, I read them.)
Save this email for the next time you feel like scrapping everything.
Or forward it to that friend who’s mid-spiral about someone else’s “perfect” launch.
✉️ 3 Subject Lines + Pre-Headers
Subject: Her launch looked perfect. Mine didn’t.
Pre-header: What I learned from comparing — and crashing.Subject: Why your business needs a mute button
Pre-header: Because comparison is just content with a side of chaos.Subject: Before you scroll another “boss babe” funnel…
Pre-header: Here’s what they don’t show you.
Grounded Quotes for Clarity
These quotes cut through the noise — no fluff, no “just be yourself” platitudes. Just real reminders for solopreneurs like your audience.
🧠 “Comparison is a thief. Not of joy — but of focus.”
🔁 “Everyone’s highlight reel is just that: a reel. Not real.”
📌 “No one else gets to define your pace.”
✨ “Comparison is just content that costs you clarity.”
🛑 “Copying someone else’s strategy is the fastest way to lose your own.”
🚫 “They’re not better. They’re just better resourced.”
Fun (and Alarming) Facts About Comparison
Help your readers feel seen and informed — with a bit of “whoa, that’s me” recognition.
1. The average solopreneur switches strategies every 21 days.
(Why? Because comparison makes us believe what we’re doing isn’t working fast enough.)
2. 88% of creators say they compare themselves to others weekly.
Even seasoned entrepreneurs still spiral, it’s not a beginner problem, it’s a human one.
3. Our brains interpret social media wins as personal failures.
It’s called “social comparison theory.” Basically, our minds can’t help but take someone else’s success personally.
4. The biggest cause of “unnecessary business expenses”?
Tool hopping. Most people sign up for new platforms after seeing what others use, not because they need them.
Quick Tips (No Funnel Required)
Snappy, scannable, and built to give readers a real action step, not just a pep talk.
The Next Time You Feel “Behind”…
Mute 3 accounts that trigger you
Revisit the last thing you finished
Write 3 lines of your next email (just 3!)
Want to feel more grounded? Try the A.N.C. method:
A — Assess: Ask “Is this helping me, or distracting me?”
N — Name your next step (just one!)
C — Create something before you scroll again
Before You Buy That Course… Ask:
Will this add clarity, or more noise?
Can I finish something smaller first?
Am I buying from inspiration or insecurity?
One Good “Anti-Comparison” Habit:
Start your workday with a "creation first" rule, no social, no inbox, no scrolling, until you've written something. Even a sentence.
🎯 Use This “Unfollow” Filter:
Unfollow anyone whose content makes you feel:
Inadequate
Anxious
Unclear
Even if they’re “good.” Especially if they’re good.
Until Next Time,
Kevin Hammer