Why chasing what works for others is keeping you stuck
Success isn’t about doing what they’re doing. Here’s why…
Ever feel like everyone else has figured it out… except you?
Their follower and subscriber count keeps growing… while yours feels like such a slow crawl, no matter what you do.
They have more clients and making more money… while you don’t understand what you’re doing wrong, so you keep trying what they’re doing, hoping that’ll get you better results.
They have a VA (virtual assistant) or a team… while you’re going at it alone, juggling all these different projects and responsibilities.
You scroll in comparison.
You analyze the differences.
You take note of your own situation.
You try so hard—spending hours learning, tweaking, and doing… but you still feel like you’re steps behind.
Have you noticed how the more you compare, the more that sense of envy or frustration grows within you?
Instead of building momentum, you stay stuck chasing after other people’s strategies, hoping for better progress:
Maybe I should try what they’re doing.
Their success means they’re doing something right—should I be doing that, too?
I don’t want to fall behind. I need to keep up.
Btw, comparison doesn’t always feel like self doubt.
It disguises itself as ambition, inspiration, and smart decision making. It convinces you that if you just follow the “right” strategy, framework, or trend, you’ll unlock success.
You keep seeking what others are doing, and tweak your plans or approach based on what’s working for them.
You then fill your time chasing new ideas, bouncing between strategies, and constantly pivoting—never truly committing to one path long enough to see results.
And before you know it, another week, another month, another year has passed—and you’re still searching for the thing that will finally work.
I had to learn my lesson the hard way, spending so much time chasing after different approaches:
I podcasted. I wrote books. I spoke on stages. I was featured on media and tv. I did webinars, workshops, and group coaching programs. I built and scrapped websites. I tried waaay too many programs and platforms. I got certified and trained in various modalities of coaching and techniques for mental and emotional release work. I hired coaches and joined masterminds. I bought countless books, courses, and programs—some I never even touched.
…and all the money I spent over the years could’ve been a down payment for a house, seriously.
That chase can be thrilling, but also very costly with your money, time, energy, and mental wellbeing.
Plus, the more I compared, the more lost I felt:
I second guessed my pricing, because I saw what others were charging and wondered if I was undervaluing or overvaluing myself.
I changed my content strategy multiple times because I thought I should be modeling what top creators or influencers were doing.
I abandoned offers before it had time to gain traction, because I saw someone else succeeding with something different and I thought maybe I was on the wrong track.
I told myself I was being strategic and adaptable, but really?
I was chasing someone else’s success instead of building my own.
…and that was quite the gut punch when I finally came to that realization.
This is just a subset of the potential ways continual comparison and chasing strategies sneakily sabotage entrepreneurs in a constant cycle of second guessing and switching directions.
Why this feels like a shortcut… but it isn’t
Your brain isn’t trying to sabotage you. It’s just trying to keep you safe from uncertainty. Comparison isn’t just about admiration—it’s a survival mechanism designed to help you feel like you’re making the “right” choice.
It’s your mind’s way of shielding you from:
Fear of choosing wrong—so you look at others for validation instead of trusting your own decisions.
Fear of missing out—so you constantly shift gears, worried that you’re falling behind.
Fear of commitment—so you keep one foot in, one foot out, afraid to go all in on your own vision.
But instead of helping you, this cycle keeps you in endless motion without real momentum. You start and stop. You pivot and tweak. You convince yourself you’ll commit once you find the “perfect” path.
Oftentimes, by copying others, you’re losing out on what truly makes you unique and not leveraging what you’re actually great at.
The hidden cost of constantly measuring yourself against others
One of the biggest pitfalls I see growth focused entrepreneurs fall into is Endless Comparisonitis Chase—the belief that success comes from adopting what’s working for others instead of staying committed to your own path.
Every time you switch gears, you reinforce the idea that what you’re doing isn’t “enough”. That hesitation becomes a habit. That habit becomes your default. Before you know it, you’ve wasted resources endlessly tweaking instead of compounding efforts in a consistent approach.
This self sabotaging behavior is what I call an Entrepreneurial Sin, and it might show up like this:
You constantly refine your strategy based on what others are doing, instead of sticking with one long enough to see real results.
You keep jumping from one offer, niche, or business model to another, chasing what seems to be working best at the moment.
You feel behind every time you see someone else’s success, leading you to believe you must be missing something.
You struggle to trust your own instincts, always looking for external validation before making a move.
If any of this resonates, you might be stuck chasing external sources of validation while losing sight of your own vision of success and noticing what actually works for you.
Here’s the truth: Success doesn’t come from following the latest trend—it comes from trusting your own path and giving it the time to grow.
The productivity illusion
The problem isn’t your ambition—it’s how you’re chasing it.
When you constantly compare and switch directions:
You never give one strategy enough time to work.
You dilute your efforts, making progress slower instead of faster.
You lose confidence in your ability to create success on your own terms.
Endless Comparisonitis Chase doesn’t lead to growth—it leads to doubt, distraction, and delay.
The goal isn’t to ignore market research, industry trends, or inspiration from others. It’s to stay focused long enough and committed to your own vision and approach so that you build something that’s truly your own.
ARE YOU STUCK IN THIS CYCLE?
If you keep questioning your every move, constantly tweaking your approach, and feeling like you’re always behind, it’s time to take a step back.
The more you chase what’s working for others, the less you trust what actually works for you. And that hesitation? It compounds and stalls your momentum.
This is just one of the 7 Entrepreneurial Sins that can hijack your productivity and quietly sabotaging your success. Oh, yes. They know how to work well together!
Want to know which ones are secretly sabotaging your progress?
In a few minutes, the Success Blocker Quiz can help you uncover the hidden patterns keeping you stuck, identify what’s truly holding you back, and learn how to finally move forward with greater confidence.
FYI, comparison itself isn’t the problem—it’s how you use it
Comparison can be powerful if it’s used as inspiring motivator rather than a reason to doubt yourself or put yourself down. Here’s how:
🐇 Curious with quick maneuverability
You quickly spot trends and new opportunities, making you highly adaptable.
You foster creative problem solving by staying openminded and willing to experiment.
You’re not afraid to pivot and experiment, making you resilient in the face of change.
🎢 Innovative + Informed
You keep yourself in the know and ahead of the curve by being highly aware of industry trends and shifts.
You deeply reflect and use keen observations to refine your strategy and messaging.
You are motivated by ambition, striving to do well and reach higher potential.
🤖 Detail oriented + Impact driven
You have strong attention to detail, ensuring high quality work.
You excel learning from successful models and integrating best practices.
You are naturally growth oriented, looking for ways to do it better.
👀 Insightful decision making
You’re thoughtful and intentional, considering different perspectives before making a move.
Your openness to feedback allows for continuous learning and growth.
You value collaboration and support, creating strong relationships and a sense of community.
Learning from others, staying adaptable, and striving for more are powerful strengths… as long as they’re paired with focus, self trust, and commitment.
When in balance, these innate skills allow you to make informed, strategic decisions—without losing yourself in the process. It fuels a drive that creates sustainable success that keeps you nimble and innovative, rather than reactive and scattered chasing after what others have.
Harness these strengths with purpose and channel them from Endless Comparisonitis Chase into undeniable drive and confidence.
It’s never too late
More scrolling, analyzing, and tweaking won’t get you where you want to go. Constantly chasing what works for others only keeps you running in circles.
If you’re tired of questioning your every move and feeling like you’re always one step behind, it’s time to uncover what’s really keeping you stuck.
Take the quiz, get your results, and start building YOUR success—not just following someone else’s. You’ve got this!
