I used to steal menus for a living!

Well, not exactly as my job, but it was part of our regular routine. Whenever a competitor launched a new menu or offer, we'd head out, try the dishes, swipe the menu, and analyze every detail.

There was always chatter about what others were doing or about the new brand that seemed to be getting bigger.

I remember one day we were discussing our biggest competitor. We marveled at how organized they must be and how great their marketing was.

We envied their offers, wishing we had thought of them first!

But, as it happens, they weren't as organized as we thought, and those hot new offers didn’t always work out.

That business almost folded completely, and we had spent so much time seeing them as a leader, a business to emulate.

I'm telling you this because it's so easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to others.

We all do it!

We see the shiny marketing, the beautiful website, the stuff they want us to see.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed and think we'll never be as successful, letting that fear hold us back.

But what we don't see is behind the scenes.

The ad spend that eats into their profits, the frantic hustle, and how they also look at others and feel like they're not good enough!

We do need to be aware of what our competitors are doing. It's basic business 101.

But just because they're bigger and seem to shine more brightly doesn’t mean they are better.

It might just mean they’re spending so much more on their marketing that their profits are in the toilet!

Here are some things to do when comparisonitis gets the better of you:

1. Be analytical about that shiny business. Instead of letting your mind run wild about how inferior you feel compared to them, grab a notebook and jot down what they do that you like and what you don’t like. Then, think about how you can do it better!

2. Listen to your customers more than your competitors - because they’re the only ones that really count.

3. Remember how far you've come, what you’ve accomplished already, and celebrate that!

Don’t compare yourself to someone else. They have their path; you have yours!

I spent the better part of a year looking enviously at other people's websites, marketing, massive Facebook groups, and how they seemed to effortlessly attract customers.

I let it stop me from moving forward, wondering how on earth I was going to compete.

How could I put my business out there when others seemed so much better than me?

But here's the thing.

It doesn’t matter what your competitors are doing.

The only thing that matters is what you’re doing and whether your customers love it or not!

When I stopped focusing on other businesses and started concentrating solely on my customers, everything became easier!

Let me know if this helps,

Cheers,