#988 Envy is Ignorance; Imitation Suicide

As I write this, it is a crisp, sunny Sunday morning. It would be nice to be outside enjoying the fall weather, but instead, I’m in my office writing this blog, catching up on lots of leftover tasks, and creating a plan for next week.

I’m telling you this because someone recently complimented me. They received an email from me early one Sunday morning and waxed on glowingly about my work ethic, dedication, and superior organizational skills.

It is not my work ethic or dedication that has me in my office every Sunday morning. It is my struggle to keep up.

Try as I might, I cannot process and move through my tasks in four or five 8- or 9-hour days. I’d wager that there are plenty of folks who outproduce me without touching work more than four days a week. I seem to need more time.

I used to get pissed at this and wonder how other people did so much more in less time. I’d beat myself up for being too disorganized or too easily distracted.

I don’t do that anymore. Instead, I sit down on Sunday mornings, secure in the knowledge that this is what I need and the knowledge that I don’t know anything about what anyone else does!

Like many of you, I fell prey to that negative voice in my head. The one that tells me I’m less than. The one who believes everyone’s life is the accumulation of new car, restaurant, and vacation pictures on FB.

Emerson has it right. Envy is ignorance, and imitation is suicide.

I have come to accept and even laud that I have developed a system that works for me. I created it, and I accept it. It isn’t because I’m slower than you or less organized. This is what I decided I needed to be the best I could be by my definition.

I urge you to do the same. Accept that you are doing the best you can with the tools and knowledge you have at this moment. Sure, strive for more. Try to do better. Stretch yourself, Learn new techniques and be open to change. Just don’t assume everyone else is crushing it while you lag behind.

Own Your Sales Gene