One of the quietest pressures in any profession is the feeling that everyone else is somehow doing better than you.Those who have a book of business, seemingly with little effort. Those who seem naturally gifted with clients. Those who manage their time (and billing) like a machine. Those who always confidently know the answer.
Most professionals are not in the habit of announcing their self-doubt (I know, you’re shocked by this statement!). But it’s often there and never a surprise. From the moment you begin your profession, you are surrounded by exceptionally capable people. Smart colleagues. Impressive CVs. Promotions being announced. Deals being celebrated. Awards being shared. And then there’s LinkedIn. The professional social media highlight reel. You see the promotion or the impressive new job title.
You don’t see the anxiety that came before it, or the lack of responsibility that may actually come with it. You see the client win.
You don’t see all the rejections. You see the confident announcement.
You don’t see the self-doubt that often sits behind it. It’s human nature to compare yourself to others. Luckily for influencers! But one of the biggest sources of stress and insecurity I see in my clients comes from comparing how they feel on the inside with how everyone else looks on the outside. And in a profession where the competition is fierce, that comparison is brutal. It can chip away at your confidence and increase your stress levels. You know on an intellectual level you’re doing extremely well but your emotions have a way to drown out the logic. One of the most powerful shifts you can make in your career is to stop playing the comparison game. Your career is not supposed to look identical to the person in the office next door, or the one who just announced their promotion online. Different strengths.
Different personalities.
Different paths.
Different timing. The lawyers who tend to build the most sustainable and satisfying careers are rarely the ones obsessing about what everyone else is doing. Who has the time for that? They focus on their own strengths.
They build strong relationships.
They play the long game. Whether it appears through comparing yourself with others or noticing someone replicating what you are doing, from your ideas and articles to your client entertainment and the way you present yourself professionally, competition has a way of creeping into our thinking. It can be frustrating. However, it’s worth remembering that while others may do similar work, there is only one person who does it the way you do. Your authenticity, your experience and your personality are unique. You are your product and your brand. You’re doing great!
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