You Are Playing the Comparison Game... Wrong

You were trained to compare. But you can choose how.

Comparison is the thief of joy.
But also, once used right, the enemy of failure.

Here’s how to use this amazing feature to your benefit:

Why Modern School Fried You More Than You Know

Comparison is human.
An automatic process to help you get from where you are right now, to a better place.

After all, we’re wired to ask: "How can I better my condition?"
(kudos to Robert Collier for that)

The problem is, school prepared us for competition.
So while comparison can help us improve, we were trained to use it the wrong way:
To beat others.

Think about it.
We get grades to pass others.
We’re appraised for parroting, not understanding.
We’re rewarded for memory, not thinking.

And then, it gets worse in adult life.
Because money, opportunities, sexual partners, focus, and autonomy all get scarce depending on one thing:

Agency.

Agency = your ability to do stuff
Higher agency = higher chances to do more cool stuff

Higher Agency Or Not, You Only See The Tip

You follow people online and think, “Damn, their life is cool.”

That’s not a lie. But it’s not the full story either.

We all have problems. And people only show what they want online.
You’re seeing the tip of the iceberg. Not the pressure, pain, or price underneath.

You don’t know the full story. You won’t know it either.

You feel jealous or awed, but remember: they paid a price.
You may need to pay a different one.
But there’s always a ticket.

Success is like pregnancy.
Everyone says congratulations.
No one knows how many times you got screwed.

Worship Is For Temples (And Even That Is Optional)

It makes sense to admire how someone made it.
Respect is normal. Even admiration.

But even the “big ones” are still figuring things out.
They don’t have all the answers.

Respect the reps. Do not worship their pedestal.

Learn from masters. Work with them if you can.
But don’t build your identity inside someone else’s.

Ask Your (Imaginary) Mentors

‍"I have three mentors.
When I’m stuck on a problem and need their help, I take the time to write a good description of my dilemma, before reaching out to them.
I summarize the context, the problem, my options, and my thoughts on each.
I make it as succinct as possible so as not to waste their time.
Before sending it, I try to predict what they’ll say.
Then I go back and update what I wrote to address these obvious points in advance.
Finally, I try again to predict what they’ll say to this, based on what they’ve said in the past and what I know of their philosophy.
Then, after this whole process, I realize I don’t need to bother them because the answer is now clear…
None of them know they are my mentors.”
- Derek Sivers

Focus On Your Strengths.

Simple? Yes.
Easy? Not always.

Everyone sucks at something. That’s life.
But sucking at something doesn’t mean your life is ruined.

A dear family friend couldn’t boil potatoes.
I was a teen and showed him how.
Still, he was making 7 figures a year at the time.

Cooking wasn’t his priority. And that’s the whole point.

Smart vs Average vs Fools

Paraphrasing Socrates gold:

Smart people compare systems.
Average people compare results.
Fools compare people.

You need to study process.
Figure out what works. Make your systems better.

Everything in life is a project. A system. A workaround.
If you see your life that way, you’ll realize:

Better systems = less friction + higher odds to win

Mistakes? They’re fine.
But only if you err… and correct.

Make mistakes that move you. Not ones that break you.

Here’s one that will break you, no matter how strong you are:

Trying to be better than {X}.

Congrats. You’ve made them your compass. Now you’re lost.
Stop playing someone else’s game. You’ll never win it.
Or, you might actually succeed at it and still feel empty.

A Foolproof Framework To Use Comparison to Your Advantage

• Get your head out of your butt. Many things “happen” only on the inside.

• What you’re really seeking is purpose; not approval, praise, or smoke-and-mirror bullshit.

• If you really admire someone, study them.

• UNDERSTAND. That means research, reflection, experimentation. Remember how the AoE map stays hidden until you visit that area.
  What works? Why it works?

• You can’t build a palace out of mud. You need the right tools, materials, time, and work.

• Compare yourself… with yourself. (Best vs worst version).
  Compare systems, not status.

• Compare yourself with who you were yesterday. Not who someone else is today.

• Seek approval only from you. Become permissionless.
  That “infection” starts young. You’re not a kid anymore.

• Every night, ask yourself:
  “What did I improve today even slightly? What sucked? What’s next?”

• Refuse to play the “better-than-you” game. It’s unwinnable.

• Train yourself to see things as they are. Not more. Not less.

• Get from Point A to B as fast and as simple as possible and also:
  Err… but correct.
  Higher agency gets you to B. Entropy drags you to C.

A = Where you are now
B = Your dream
C = Your nightmare

That’s all for now, amigo.

Now go have fun.
And compare what actually matters.

Lifeward,
George

PS
If you love timers, I made a Pareto-inspired tool.
Take a look if you want to do more in less time.

PPS
If you’re into high-agency living, I started a subscription model.
No pressure. It comes with a free trial.