Being a business owner today isn’t the same as being a business owner in the early 2000s. With the current digital environment of easy-to-build websites, software and social media, we’ve got so many more opportunities at our fingertips than any other entrepreneurs before us. And I’m so grateful for that.

But it doesn’t come without its own cost.

I originally started my business in 2015 as a photographer and designer. I was passionate and determined, but I was also overwhelmed. There were so many different marketing platforms to be on (which has only gotten worse) and I felt like I had to be doing everything at once.

My daughter, Kacie, was only three at the time and went to nursery a couple of times a week. I had little energy and time to spend on my business and I was spreading myself out too thin, trying to be on all the social media platforms and doing it all.

And most of the time I was on those platforms to “market” my business was mostly spent in a scroll of comparison. I ended up feeling so deflated and questioning my own skills and talents. It was hard to book clients while feeling so inferior and like I wasn’t as good as others in my industry. Maybe you’ve experienced that too?

I got so focused on the number of likes I was getting instead of spending time on high-value tasks that would move the needle in my business, that it was a long time before I started to see progress.

In the fast-paced digital world of business, it’s easy to fall into the trap of constantly comparing ourselves to others. We find ourselves scrolling through social media, analysing our competitors, and measuring our success against theirs. But this never-ending comparison game can be detrimental to our growth and ultimately hinder our ability to attract more clients and significantly grow our business. But that’s only taking into account the impacts it can have on our businesses—as a business owner, it can damage our mental health and lead to a nasty case of burnout, which is where I landed.

If you’re constantly losing focus, putting too much on your plate, and stuck in a state of comparison, you won’t achieve your full potential.

Here are five ways I overcame this and started making progress in my business. You can build a business that brings you joy, allows time for freedom and puts money in the bank. Here are some ways to help you get started:

Embrace Your Skills & Expertise

One of the first steps towards staying in your own lane is acknowledging and embracing your own skills and expertise. As a business owner, you have a unique set of talents and experiences that differentiate you from your competitors. By recognising and focusing on what you do best, you can cultivate a strong personal brand that attracts clients who resonate with your specific strengths.

Rather than trying to be a jack-of-all-trades, hone in on your core passions and become the go-to expert in your niche. Specialisation not only allows you to provide exceptional value to your clients but also builds credibility and trust in your brand.

Create Your Own Journey

Every business owner’s journey is unique. It’s essential to understand that success is not always straightforward and immediate, it takes time and there can be a lot of setbacks. Instead of fixating on where others are in their journey, concentrate on your own progress. Compare yourself only to your past self and focus on continuous improvement—just doing 1% better than you did the day before.

Take time to reflect on how far you’ve come—celebrate your accomplishments, no matter how small they may seem. By shifting your perspective and embracing your own journey, you’ll be better equipped to make strategic decisions and propel your business forward without a comparison distraction.

Cultivate Gratitude for the Present

In the pursuit of growth and success, it’s easy to become consumed by future goals and aspirations. But I want you to know something—it’s crucial to cultivate gratitude for the present moment and the progress you’ve already made. Gratitude allows you to appreciate what you have while working for what you want for your long-term future.

Take a moment each day to acknowledge and express gratitude for the clients you have, the opportunities you’ve been given, and the lessons you’ve learned along the way. Practising gratitude not only fosters a positive mindset but also helps you maintain focus on your own growth without being overshadowed by comparison.

Focus on Your Zone of Genius

As business owners, our time and energy are limited resources. To maximise productivity, it’s crucial to identify and operate within your “zone of genius.” This concept by Gay Hendricks refers to the activities that align with your passion, talents, and strengths—the tasks that bring you joy and yield the greatest results.

Delegate or outsource tasks that lie outside your zone of genius, allowing you to focus on what you do best. By concentrating your efforts on your unique abilities, you’ll be able to deliver exceptional value to your clients, maintain high levels of productivity, and nurture the growth of your business.

Limit Your Marketing Platforms

The most powerful thing I’ve done in my business is to choose a handful of marketing strategies and go all in. When you spread yourself too thin, like I did, you’ll always be busy but you won’t see great results because you just don’t have the time.

The best way I’ve done this is to choose one core content channel (blog, YouTube, email newsletter, Podcast, etc) and one core social media platform to focus my attention. You can then repurpose that content for other platforms.

Choosing the right platforms can feel difficult and give you a case of FOMO, but you need to stop thinking of them as missed opportunities and realise the potential in focusing on the platforms that are going to give you the best results.

To do this, you need to get clear on your ideal clients and know where they spend a lot of their time. If you’re a photographer, this might be Facebook or email marketing. If you’re a service provider for other businesses, this might be LinkedIn or SEO through your blog.

When you know where your ideal clients are spending their time, consider what platforms feel good to use. If you feel good when using a platform, e.g. Instagram, you’re going to get better results.

I also want to add that if you don’t enjoy being on social media at all, there are plenty of other marketing strategies that work really well. I believe wholeheartedly that you can have a successful business without being on social media, the key is to consider what’s best for you and your business.

The comparison game can be a never-ending cycle that hinders growth and stifles creativity. However, by consciously choosing to stay in your own lane, you unlock the power to attract more clients and significantly grow your business.

Embrace your skills and expertise, acknowledging the unique value you bring to the table. Embrace your own journey, focusing on continuous improvement and celebrating your achievements—small win by small win. Cultivate gratitude for the present moment, fostering a positive mindset and attracting abundance. And finally, prioritise your zone of genius, optimising your productivity by focusing on what you do best.

Remember, success is not a one-size-fits-all measure. It’s a deeply personal and evolving journey. So, let go of the comparison game, stay in your own lane, and watch your business flourish.