March 15, 2017

Entrepreneurs are competitive by nature. You feel the urge to create something new, quickly kick off your ideas, and plan for your next level of success.

When you're in a tight-knit community like an incubator, you're constantly around other people on a similar mission as you. This can encourage some friendly competition between neighbors - which can be fun and exciting; though, you may occasionally feel like others are blasting ahead and you're not progressing as quickly.

This is a completely natural and common feeling. Many people feel this way, even those you think are succeeding constantly and skyrocketing ahead of everyone. Remember, it is important to not allow this feeling to overwhelm you and cause you to lose focus on your own path toward your goals.

Social graces

Social media is an incredible asset in many ways, but it can also cause serious FOMO. The “fear of missing out” is a phenomenon that affects almost everyone with a social media account. The trick is: take social media with a grain of salt.

You may see your peers posting achievements and prototypes accompanied by inspirational quotes, but remember, people usually only post their highlight reel. If you see a Snapchat story or a tweet from some peers stating their accomplishments, don't be discouraged. Be gracious and say congratulations, then continue to work on your own projects.

No rush

Don't rush out your work just because you see your peers launching their ventures or winning competitions. Take your time! Make sure your projects are up to your standards. The only person you are really competing against is yourself.

Behind the scenes

You may feel like others are progresses so quickly because you don't see the hard work others put it. Rarely does someone's project succeed and quickly blossom the first time around. People fall, think, and get up, coming back better than ever.

Remember that most shared spaces are there to help you, and the people around you, grow. Take the opportunity to share ideas, learn from peers, and get fast feedback from those around you. Don't compete with other people because you feel like you have to.

The most important thing to remember is: the only things you should be focused on is you, fostering healthy relationships, and your own success!

Sarah Temple, Communications, Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship