I’m still trying to distill the many lessons learned during this pandemic.
The virus keeps causing devastation, but it also led to lightspeed progress in science.
The ways we buy, communicate, and live have shifted sharply. Some of these newly-formed habits are here to stay.
In the beginning, our social media screens showcased compassion, encouragement, and refreshing experiments – like, how to bake your French baguette, cook, or play with friends in a virtual setting!
Companies were more obsessed with their actual performance and survival than how they fared compared to the competition.
We focused on what we could control in our personal and professional lives and tried to get the best out of our days with fewer distractions.
Then, slowly but surely, we have naturally resumed looking outwards as things started to ease a bit. Inevitably, we started comparing ourselves to others again.
“How come this competitor kept doubling their business, despite the IC component shortages and supply chain disruptions?”
“How come my Facebook connections are going on exotic vacations when I don’t even know if life is back to normal?”
You get the idea: envy is back!
And with it, both companies and individuals start blaming themselves and making stupid decisions again, simply because they think they’re falling behind.
We should know better! When a competitor highlights their latest success, they’re giving you a curated version of their business performance. Things are rarely as rosy as they seem.
The same goes with these people showing off their success, possessions, and prestige.
No one is immune. We all experience envy at one stage. So how should we handle it?
One simple trick I use is to follow some of the stoic philosophers wisdom. Whenever envy hits me, I remember this saying from Epictetus:
“An ignorant person is inclined to blame others for his misfortune. To blame oneself is proof of progress. But the wise man never has to blame another or himself.”
There will always be a competitor with more revenue or positive customer reviews. There will always be someone with more money, power, and prestige.
So, focus on what you can control and set yourself free. Stay healthy and delight the ones who truly matter: your family, friends, and customers!