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Run Your Own Race: Why Chasing Others Won’t Lead to Your Success

 

Run Your Own Race: Why Chasing Others Won’t Lead to Your Success

#46 - 05/21/2025

Run Your Own Race: Why Chasing Others Won’t Lead to Your Success


As I’m sitting here on what I call an admin day—a once-a-month productivity habit where I sort mail, review finances, follow up on goals, and reset my systems—I’m reminded of how powerful it is to just stop.

Not slow down. Stop.

No phone in hand. No distractions. Just me, a spreadsheet, and a brutally honest check-in with myself:
Am I still running my race? Or did I start chasing someone else’s finish line without realizing it?

Because if you’re not clear on your goals, you’ll always find yourself drifting into someone else’s.
You either run your own race, or you chase someone else’s definition of success.


The Danger of Constant Comparison


If you’re wondering how to stop comparing yourself to others, start here: realize how easy it is to do it without knowing you are. Comparison rarely starts as envy. Sometimes it looks like motivation—until you realize you're measuring your progress using someone else’s timeline.

Whether it’s someone’s highlight reel on Instagram, their success in business, or their “overnight” results in personal finance, you can start feeling behind even when you’re actually on track.

And once you lose sight of your metrics, you lose momentum.


Run Your Race: Define Your Finish Line

Why Clarity Requires Quiet


That’s why I protect these admin days. I call them productive, but they’re really peaceful. They’re where I recenter. Where I remember why I started this journey in the first place—to build a lifestyle of purpose, discipline, and financial freedom.

It’s in the quiet I find clarity.


Whether I’m updating my Marketplace inventory, tracking progress on It’s Worth Your Wage, or adjusting my goal-setting strategies, I use this time to make sure I’m not drifting into distractions disguised as opportunities.


Define Your Success. Set Your Pace.


Personal growth, like passive income, isn’t a race against others—it’s a commitment to consistency. I’ve learned to trust the process. I might not be the loudest in the room or the fastest on the track, but I’m building something real:

  • Steady blog growth

  • Sustainable side income

  • An online ecosystem that supports long-term goals

Here’s my question for you:

  • What does your race actually look like?

  • What does success mean to you—not your neighbor, coworker, or social media feed?

  • Are your habits aligned with the finish line you’re aiming for?


Conclusion: Reset and Refocus


When you find yourself comparing, take a step back. Close the tabs. Mute the noise. And reflect.

Because chasing someone else’s path won’t take you where you’re meant to go.

Run your race. Define your finish line. And don’t forget to rest long enough to remember why you started.

Here are other related articles of interest: 

The Comfort Of a Good Book: Why I Love to Read

The Power of Positivity: How Your Thoughts Shape Your Life

From the author:


To whomever you are, I write that this publication will encourage you to subscribe and receive updates as we dive into the thirteen successful principles to move life from a roller coaster to less than a ripple. And remember, doing so will be worth your wage.

I look forward to reading your comments below.


Todd

Follow this blog



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Todd Matherne

From the Author

To whomever you are, I write that this publication will encourage you to subscribe and receive updates as we dive into the thirteen successful principles to move life from a roller coaster to less than a ripple. And remember, doing so will be worth your wage.

I look forward to reading your comments below.

Todd

Follow This Blog
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Location: Baton Rouge, LA 70806, USA

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