I’ll start this off with a quick story about a young kid I knew. This kid became inspired by some of the all-time great jiu jitsu practitioners and wanted to become one, so he signed up at a nearby gym and was immediately blown away by watching the black belts during their training.

 

As this kid grew and learned and got better, the time eventually came for him to start rolling on the mats with some of those black belts.

 

And that kid got schooled. Quickly.

 

That same kid thought about saying f*ck it and quitting, but one of the greatest lessons that kid learned was that when you run into someone who is doing what you want to do, or has become what you want to become, comparing your current situation to theirs is a complete waste of time, so it’s best to just get back to work and focus.

 

That’s why I’m writing this newsletter now. That kid was me, and that lesson still applies today.

 

Listen, we all start from different places in life. That’s why comparing your starting point to someone else’s journey is a recipe for disappointment. This is exactly why I always say that we need to focus on our own path. Other people’s stories are there for inspiration and lessons that need to be learned, but they have nothing to do with comparing situations.

 

In addition to that, there is another factor you need to keep in mind when starting to go after a dream. You’ve got to be willing to put in the hard work, even on the days when you feel like you’re not making any progress. That’s called taking ownership of your actions and staying accountable to your goals. Success isn’t about instant results, it’s about persistence, learning from failures, and racking up those small wins along the way.

 

Speaking of instant success, we all know people that were born with advantages. Maybe it’s rich parents, maybe it’s physical gifts they are born with, whatever. This only happens to a small amount of people, and since we don’t get to choose our parents or the situation we’re born into, why stress about it? The key is understanding where you are, what you’re up against, and where you want to be.

 

The point I want you to take from this is that success can come from any starting point. Whether you begin with advantages or face significant challenges, your journey is yours. That’s why I stress that you need to own it.

 

And take pride in that ownership.

 

It’s also important to recognize that while some people may be gifted with a head start, others might need to work a little harder to reach their goals…and that’s okay. Every journey is different, and it’s the effort that you put in that will shape your success. 

Speaking of other people, and I touched on this in the last newsletter, we know what we see on the surface, but we don’t know anything about someone’s life, past, current situation, etc. It might appear that others can achieve success effortlessly, but they may have been born into a situation that provided them with opportunities you didn’t have. I get that it’s easy to feel frustrated or jealous about it, but remember, their journey doesn’t have sh*t to do with yours and their success (earned or not) doesn’t diminish your potential or value.

 

 

So, while it’s natural to compare ourselves with others, it’s also important to appreciate the successes of others without feeling envious or jealous. When someone else achieves success that you haven’t reached yet, it’s just a testament to what’s possible. Why not let their success inspire you instead of discouraging you?

 

Success requires this kind of mindset.

 

The key is understanding that success isn’t a race. It’s a journey that unfolds at its own pace. Some people might reach their goals faster, while others take longer. It depends on what the goal is. It’s all relative. What’s important is that you stay committed and always keep trying to rack up those small wins.

 

Also, as you get started on your own path to success, it’s crucial to understand the difference between inspiration and comparison. My hope is that you can use the achievements of others as motivation to push yourself forward, not as a yardstick to measure some perceived lack of progress.

 

While I’m at it, if you want the facts, it is a well-studied fact that the feeling of inspiration significantly boosts motivation and success. I won’t go into all the psychological details, but people who draw inspiration from others are more likely to stay focused, dedicated, and resilient in the face of challenges. Who wouldn’t want to get on board with that?

Now, I want to hear from you. Who or what has inspired you? Did that inspiration help you get started on your path to success? What challenges have you faced along the way? Did you find a way to overcome it? If so, that is exactly what this community and I want to hear! 

 

We support each other by sharing the stories of our victories and learning from one another’s setbacks. I’m telling you, there are people in this community who have achieved great things, and I know we can all learn from each other.

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