“Teddy Roosevelt purportedly said, ‘comparison is the thief of joy.’ Comparison does more than that: It also robs your confidence. When we compare ourselves to others, we often come up short. That’s because we’re comparing ourselves to an illusion – a curated, airbrushed, seemingly perfect version of a deeply imperfect person.”
Ozan Varol, Awaken Your Genius
Song: Bring You Down (Stripped) by Divide The Fall
Article: Why You Need A Not-To-Do List
Thought: I’ve been into sports for a really long time, in particular, football. I’ve followed two teams over the years: Packers and Seahawks. As a kid Brett Favre was my hero. There is a famous game on Monday night he played the day after his dad passed away from a sudden heart attack throwing almost 400 yards and 2 TDs. Nothing could stop him. But the end of his time at Green Bay was marred by money and being the center of attention – he went to the Jets. Favre is now in scandal over welfare funds. This year with Aaron Rodgers feels eerily similar (darkness retreat, ayahuasca, and the Jets). Last year was all about Russell Wilson. Another trademark “good guy” who has been exposed by his teammates as individualistic and toxic. Hearing “Broncos Country, Let’s Ride” makes me cringe.
It’s dangerous to put people on a pedestal – they always disappoint. I have a tendancy of putting people in my life into the hero role and prematurely building their statues. I’m a hype-man for folks and that’s genuine. I think most people are amazing and I try to learn from their spectacular. But it shrouds the less amazing and that’s where I find myself disappointed, hurt and wondering what happened. I am caught between the conflict of their superhero and humanity.
Lately, I have been trapped in comparison in seeing titles – something I abhor. I hate titles and think they are generally garbage status symbols. That’s not to say the people receiving them haven’t earned or deserve those recognitions. I am at the point in my career seeing folks get “VP” status, “Director of X,” and other influential roles. I’m happy for them. Titles are just another pedestal to get caught up in the infallibility of the role. Good leaders don’t throw their titles around. For bad ones, it’s all they have. I found myself over the last month wishing for a title because it will give me the influence – rather than the other way around.
I’m working to put ideals, culture and purpose on pedestals. That way when something fails, it’s just a thing. It can be replaced or put back up there. Much easier to glorify a purpose than a person. Much more productive than wishing for a title that doesn’t carry the influence.