The race you never win

In the world of professional achievement, it's easy to get caught in the comparison trap. It's so easy, in fact, that sometimes we don’t even realize we’re stepping into a race we didn’t sign up for. We find ourselves measuring our worth against the success of others, asking ourselves why we haven't reached the same finish line. Why hasn't our career trajectory followed the same path? Why haven't we achieved what they have?

I’ve been there.

Just recently, I looked at the profile of someone years younger than me who has already held two CMO titles. And I spiraled into that familiar question: Why haven’t I been “good enough” to land a C-level role?

It's not a new question for me. Last year, I was replaced by a younger man who received a C-level title. I couldn’t help but ask myself, Why? I had fallen into the comparison trap again.

The Race We Didn’t Sign Up For

Comparison is like inviting yourself into a race no one asked you to run, then measuring yourself against the runner next to you. You don’t know their rules, you don’t know their skills, and you don’t know their history. It’s not your race—it’s theirs. And you can’t win their race; you can only win your own.

But it’s easy to forget that when the person beside you seems to be pulling ahead or crossing a finish line you haven’t reached yet. Their success can feel like a reminder that you’re not there yet, and it’s tempting to feel like you’re falling behind.

It’s so easy to fall into this trap. But comparison doesn’t tell the full story of who we are or what we’re capable of. Plus, it’s not healthy or helpful.

A Curated Version of Ourselves

If you spend any time on LinkedIn, you know the drill. We’re all here trying to outshine one another, showcasing achievements, insights, and accomplishments to land the next job, client, or investor. But let’s be honest: this is a personal marketing platform. It’s no different from other social media platforms—it’s a curated version of our lives designed to create a personal brand and advance our goals.

It’s not the full story. It never is.

Writing Your Own Story

The real story? That’s ours to write, not to compare.

When I started sharing more of my journey on LinkedIn, it wasn’t just to show what I’ve accomplished. It wasn’t just about marketing myself or seeking validation. I wanted to write my own unique story—one that wasn’t defined by anyone else’s timeline or achievements. I wanted to offer what makes me different. Yes, I am marketing myself, but I’m doing it on my own terms and in my own voice.

I’m using my unique talents and perspectives to create my own race to run. That means no one can really compete with me—and vice versa. Because when you embrace your own race, you realize there’s no competition. Only your journey, your pace, and your finish line.

Beyond the Title

I am so much more than my career. In fact, my career is the least interesting thing about my life. If you knew me in real life, you’d know my beautiful son’s adoption story, my ongoing adventures in bread baking, how I survived cancer, and the incredible journey of meeting my birth parents. You’d also know the burdens I carry—the parts of me that don’t fit into a LinkedIn profile or résumé.

We are ALL so much more interesting and valuable than the TITLES we’ve had.

Focus on Your Lane

What if we stopped focusing on the runners beside us and started focusing on our own lane? What if we embraced our own race—our unique path, pace, and finish line?

Maybe it’s time we take the time to get to know people—really get to know who they are beyond the titles and the carefully curated profiles. Embrace who they are over what they do. Be vulnerable—and accept the vulnerability of others.

2025: A New Kind of Race

So, in 2025, let’s promise to be gentler—with ourselves, with each other. Let’s stop tearing ourselves down by comparing our journey to someone else’s.

Because, at the end of the day, comparison doesn’t build us up; it tears us down.

Conclusion: Run Your Own Race

The next time you catch yourself comparing your journey to someone else’s, pause and ask yourself: What’s my story? And how do I want to tell it?

Your race is yours to run, and it’s the only one that truly matters.