Do you ever search the web or social media with an obsession to find out what others are up to?
A consultant friend of mine recently forwarded another colleague’s email, asking if I knew who she was and what she was up to. I did, and shared that the colleague is doing some interesting things to market her services. Her response: “I guess I’d better get to know her.”
I often justify seeking out what others are doing because I need to be in the know. After all, being on top of industry trends is a vital part of my responsibilities, right? Maybe yes and maybe no. Yet I often catch myself in Google or Facebook frenzy checking out other websites or programs, and feeling competitive or even indignant. I get in a place where I begin to compare myself to her accomplishments or, worse yet, begin to judge what she is doing and, of course, making her wrong. I can easily slide into the negative and self-righteous mind chatter of “Geesh, she promotes herself a lot,” or “Who does she think she is doing XYZ? I’m more experienced in that!”
Ugly, right?
Be right where you are
When I get into that negative loop, my business coach often asks me, “Why don’t you give yourself permission to ‘be’ right where you are and re-commit to your own goals?”
Many of us can slow ourselves down by trying to force progression and do too many things at once. It’s been called the Shiny Object Syndrome. I define the syndrome as starting a project or a goal, and then another seemingly better or quicker goal or idea comes along, and, boom, you are off in another direction — hence, chasing the shiny object and often times abandoning and never finishing the original goal. Does this sound familiar?
Some of my clients start and stop getting an advanced degree (I did three times before I actually finished), a certification training, exercise program, finishing a book, or even cleaning out a closet. Sure, we know all about what others are doing, yet we take ourselves out of the game if we don’t finish our own tasks.
Therefore, if you find yourself spending more energy seeking out what others are up to vs. getting clear on what you want, give yourself permission to be right where you are. Seek out support to help your career aims and ideals. Refine what career path you actually desire and align it with daily doable actions. And, the next time you find yourself wasting a lot of your valuable time and money chasing other people’s successes, pause, send them blessings, and honor yourself by re-committing to you!
Kristine A. Hodsdon RDH, MSEC
Director, RDH eVillage
Kristine A. Hodsdon, Founder of Dental Influencers, LLC, supports providers to clean up the business systems and their relationship with money so they can fill their schedules, treat more patients and thrive with their teams! See if Kristine’s coaching or training programs can help, go to kristineahodsdon.com and email her at [email protected]
