Title: How to Run Your Own Race in a World Obsessed with Comparison
by: Tom Reynolds
There’s a moment I’ll never forget.
I was in a high-stakes leadership meeting, representing a billion-dollar business unit. We were presenting strategy updates, and one leader — charismatic, polished, visibly “winning” — walked out of the room to a round of applause.
And I remember thinking: Should I be more like him? Louder? More visionary?
That moment stuck with me, not because I was insecure — but because I was human.
We all compare. It’s baked into our wiring.
But unchecked, comparison is the trap that steals your clarity.
In our innovation work, one of the most dangerous things we saw was “benchmarking gone blind.” Teams would copy competitors without understanding the context, the goals, or the capacity behind those moves.
The result? Misalignment. Burnout. Identity drift.
The same thing happens in your personal life.
You scroll someone else’s curated feed…
You read about someone else’s promotion or transformation…
And suddenly, you’re questioning your own pace, path, and worth.
But here’s what I’ve learned:
Your cool doesn’t live in someone else’s timeline. It lives in your truth.
Real Story: From the Bronx to the Boardroom
I grew up in the Bronx. Was targeting a job with an accounting firm.
And I got my first job at Johnson & Johnson by accident — literally. I was targeting accounting firms. I am not sure how I was submitted to J&J. But I went to the interview, hit it off with the leader. It changed my plans
And if you’re going to find your cool, you need to be prepared for every twist and turn.
Cool Exercise: The Comparison Detox
Pick one area of your life where comparison creeps in:
- Social media
- Professional peer groups
- Family expectations
- Past versions of yourself
Now do two things:
- Unfollow or mute one account, voice, or source that makes you feel small or behind.
- Write down 3 things you’ve done this year that make you proud — not based on results, but on effort, growth, or integrity.
Post that list where you can see it.
Let it anchor you in your story.
Innovation Insight: Copying Kills Creativity
When we launched startup accelerators and coached leadership teams, we always warned against “comparison modeling.” It looks like strategy — but it’s often fear in disguise.
The best innovators didn’t try to beat someone else’s race.
They redesigned the track.
That’s what cool leaders do. They create their own pace, their own path, and trust the compound return of alignment over approval.
Quote to Reflect On
“Comparison is the thief of joy.” — Theodore Roosevelt
Final Thought
There’s no right pace. There’s only your pace.
You’re not late. You’re not behind.
You’re just in a world that forgot how to measure meaning.
So take a deep breath.
Reclaim your lane.
And remind yourself:
You are not here to run faster — you’re here to run free.
Cool isn’t a race. It’s a rhythm.
And you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Lead Like a Leader 
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