How to Stop Comparing Yourself to Coworkers

How I Stopped Comparing Myself to Others as a Program Manager at Amazon Working at Amazon means being surrounded by some of the brightest, most talented people in the world. It’s inspiring—and at times, overwhelming. Early in my career, I couldn’t help but compare myself to others. I’d see someone leading a massive initiative or delivering a flawless presentation and think, “Why am I not at that level yet?” Over time, I realized that this mindset wasn’t helping me grow—it was holding me back. Constantly measuring myself against others took energy away from what really mattered: focusing on my own growth and strengths. Here’s what helped me shift my perspective: 1️⃣ Focus on My Journey Instead of asking, How do I stack up against them? I started asking, What can I do to be better than I was yesterday? By focusing on my own progress, I stopped getting distracted by comparisons and started celebrating my wins—big and small. 2️⃣ Learn from, Don’t Compete With, Others I realized that the incredible people around me aren’t competition—they’re resources. Now, when I see someone excelling, I ask myself, What can I learn from them? Turning comparison into curiosity has made me a better program manager and collaborator. 3️⃣ Trust My Strengths We all bring something unique to the table. Instead of trying to mirror someone else’s path, I’ve leaned into my own strengths—like building trust with cross-functional partners, staying calm under pressure, and focusing on clarity and alignment. Amazon is full of extraordinary people, and that’s something I’m grateful for every day. Instead of feeling intimidated, I’ve learned to see it as an opportunity to grow and contribute in my own way. If you’ve ever struggled with comparison, I’d love to hear how you’ve managed it—or what’s helped you focus on your own growth. #Leadership #ProgramManagement #GrowthMindset #Amazon #PersonalDevelopment

The happiest people I know stopped competing and started supporting others’ success👇🏼 Here's something I've noticed after years of coaching: The people who are genuinely happy in their careers aren't the ones constantly looking over their shoulders at what everyone else is doing. My client Carrie used to scroll through LinkedIn every morning and feel like she was less than. She was so busy keeping score with people she barely knew that she completely lost track of her own progress. "I feel like I'm failing at everything," she told me. But when we actually looked at her journey—really looked at it—the story was completely different. Two years ago, Carrie was too scared to speak up in meetings. Now she's leading client presentations. She used to avoid difficult conversations with her manager. Now she advocates for herself and her team. She used to accept projects that weren't in her wheelhouse because she was afraid to say no. Now she's become the go-to person for her specific expertise. The problem wasn't her progress. The problem was her scorecard. Here's what I teach every client about redefining success: ✅ 1 // Your only real competition is the person you were last year. Carrie wasn't the same person who started at that company. She'd grown, learned, and become more confident. But she couldn't see it because she was too busy comparing herself to people on completely different paths. ✅ 2 // Celebrate other people's wins—it costs you nothing and teaches you everything. Instead of feeling threatened by colleagues' success, Maria started asking them how they did it. Turns out, most people love sharing what worked for them. Her network grew and so did her knowledge. ✅ 3 // Define what success actually means to you, not what it looks like on social media. Once Carrie stopped playing everyone else's game and started focusing on her own growth, everything shifted. She got the promotion she wanted, but more importantly, she felt proud of the work it took to get there. Your career isn't a race where only one person can win. It's a journey where success looks different for everyone, and there's room for all of us at the top. 📌 Question: What's one way you've grown in your career that doesn't show up on your resume?

Stop comparing your progress to others. After studying 1,000+ high achievers, I discovered why feeling "behind" is actually a sign you're on the right track. Everyone feels behind sometimes - even those getting ahead. The truth? Your internal dialogue kills more dreams than failure ever will. I spent 5 years studying successful entrepreneurs who overcame comparison paralysis. Here's what they did differently: They understood a crucial truth: Comparison is confirmation bias in action. When you compare, you: • Notice others' wins, not their struggles • Amplify your flaws, not your progress • Create imaginary deadlines for success But here's what research reveals about comparison: Neural imaging shows comparison triggers the same brain regions as physical pain. So those feelings of inadequacy? They're literally hurting you. The solution isn't "just stop comparing." It's rewiring your comparison triggers: 1. Track Your Comparison Moments • Note exact situations • Record your emotional state • Identify environmental factors 2. Create a "Wins" Database • Document daily progress • Screenshot positive feedback • Update weekly accomplishments 3. Set Progress Metrics That Matter • Revenue growth rate vs size • Skill mastery vs credentials • Impact depth vs reach The most successful people I studied had this in common: They transformed comparison into data collection. Instead of "They're so far ahead," ask: • What systems did they build? • Which mistakes did they avoid? • How can I adapt their strategy? Watch how quickly your focus shifts from others to your own growth. Because success isn't about being better than someone else. It's about being better than your previous self. - If you found this valuable: • Repost for your network ♻️ • Follow me for more deep dives • Join 25,500+ subscribers for more actionable tips to build your brand and protect your reputation: https://lnkd.in/edPWpFRR #PersonalGrowth #Success #Mindset

I recently came across a quote that stuck with me: "The quickest way to destroy something amazing is to compare it to something else. What once felt exciting, meaningful, and full of potential suddenly feels small—not because it changed, but because you looked sideways." Those words made me think of a conversation I had with a coach. He was feeling pressure-—not externally, but internally—because he was looking sideways, comparing his journey to other coaches. He was becoming distracted by how fast other coaches were climbing and all the opportunities they were getting. It was starting to cloud his confidence. That conversation led us to two principles to remember when you feel you're falling behind: Run your own race Yes, it is a competitive field, but comparison isn't a strategy—it's a distraction. Focus on becoming the best version of yourself, not a copy of someone else. Trust your process. Dominate the level you're at and you won't have to chase opportunities; you'll attract them. Turn off the shot clock In basketball, the shot clock forces urgency. However, we often create self-induced pressure by comparing our timeline to others'. "He got promoted by 30." "She already has a national title." That thinking leads to poor decisions, transactional leadership, and focusing on what you can't control. When you turn off the shot clock, you permit yourself to grow at your own pace. You make room for trust, development, and skills that will prepare you for your next stop. So, if you feel like you're falling behind, here's your reminder: Run your own race and turn off the shot clock. Refuse to look sideways. Your impact can't be measured against someone else's path.