Stuck Comparing Yourself to Other Founders? Read This

Marketing Shenanigans (#039)

One of the toughest parts of being an entrepreneur is comparing yourself to others—and here’s why that mindset almost held me back.

It’s so easy to fall into the trap of comparison. Whether it’s mentally sizing someone up or genuinely admiring their work, we’ve all been there. But here’s the hard truth: there’s no one-size-fits-all path to success.

And chasing someone else’s version of it? That’s a losing game.

What I Found

Here’s what I discovered while trying to keep up with other founders: Most of them weren’t even defining success the same way I was.

Some were optimizing for money. Others for fame. Some just wanted freedom—the ability to travel, spend more time with family, or work fewer hours. And me? I was chasing something completely different.

The problem? I was comparing my journey to people who weren’t even running the same race.

When I finally realized that, it completely changed my perspective. Success isn’t universal—it’s personal.

Your goals, values, and circumstances shape your unique definition of success. Comparing yourself to someone who’s optimizing for something else will only distract you from what really matters: your own progress.

Here’s how I flipped the script: Instead of asking, "How do I measure up to them?" I started asking, "How do I measure up to my own goals?"

That simple shift changed everything. I stopped trying to play their game and started focusing on mine. That’s where real growth happens.

Here’s the takeaway: Comparison can be a motivator, but only if it’s rooted in aspiration, not imitation.

The Mindset Shift You Need

• Define what success means to you. Is it financial freedom? Flexibility? Impact? Legacy? Get crystal clear.

• Align your goals with your vision of success. Your goals should reflect what you’re actually chasing, not what others are achieving.

• Measure progress against yourself—not against others. Growth is about getting closer to your vision, not someone else’s.

The Takeaway

The only race worth running is the one you’ve set for yourself. Define what success looks like for you, and go all in on that vision. When you stop comparing and start focusing on your goals, you’ll find the clarity and momentum to create something truly remarkable.

TL;DR: Success isn’t universal—it’s personal. Stop comparing yourself to others and focus on defining and chasing your own vision. That’s where real progress begins.

Cheers,

Teddy

Teddy Giard

In case you don’t already know, my name is Teddy, and I operate a firm that specializes in marketing strategies for outdoor brands. Our approach is simple: align your product development timeline with your marketing production timeline; by doing so, we can own the distribution of our message and our products.

If you’d like to explore working together, feel free to fill out this form, and if we’re a good fit, we can schedule a discovery call. We ask this because we keep a fairly narrow target for whom we work, and we like to be as open about that on the front end as possible. After all, time is life’s most valuable resource.