Everyone says we shouldn’t compare ourselves to others. No, they’re not talking about situations where you are decidedly better or more accomplished, they’re talking about situations where someone is eating your lunch.
I usually avoid doing this. But sometimes, I can’t.
I just finished a book by a young man who works full time at a corporate management job, goes to law school at night, and, in his spare time, writes novels.
He turns out a new novel every few weeks.
And, he does it, he says, in one pass. One draft and off to the editor. Oh, and he doesn’t use an outline.
Much of his writing is done in small snippets of time. While waiting for his wife at the mall he’ll push out a few hundred words, for example, on his phone. Typing with his thumbs. Something else I can’t do.
Color me impressed. Or maybe depressed, if I compare my output to his.
So yeah, comparing yourself to others can put a dent in your ego. But only if you let it.
Instead of comparing ourselves to others, and feeling bad, what if we get inspired by others and learn from them?
They can teach us what’s possible. And while we may not be able to do what they do, we may learn some new tactics or approaches.
When I read how this guy writes a book-length manuscript in a single draft I thought there’s no way I could do that. But then I thought, “But maybe I could limit myself to three or four drafts, which is way better than the unlimited re-writes I currently allow myself.
I don’t know if it will work for me but at least I’m thinking about it. Something I wouldn’t have done had I not read and been inspired by this man’s story.
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