Who do you compare yourself to?

My pianist friend Evangelos Spanos told me one day that as tempting as it is to compare yourself with the people around you, the only people you should compare yourself to are your idols.

If you realize that you are not as good as your idols, you won't feel awful about your ability, and you won't wonder if you'll ever make it. It might however push you to raise the bar to a higher level.

It's too easy comparing yourself to the people in your program at your school, or in your direct professional environment.



Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebusybrain/2492945625/