IAM2737 – Run Your Own Race: Avoid the Comparison Trap

The Comparison Trap

One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is thinking they are losing just because they see competitors growing faster or louder. This constant comparison is dangerous because it pulls you out of your own strategy and forces you into “reaction mode.” Instead of building with intentionality, you start copying others, which is exactly how your momentum stalls and burnout begins.

The CEO Hack

Most entrepreneurs find themselves competing in crowded markets where everyone uses the same offers, the same messaging, and the same insane tactics. This environment creates a cycle of second-guessing every decision, alongside intense pricing pressure and marketing fatigue. By following the crowd, you stop being a leader and start becoming just another echo in a noisy room.

Running Your Own Race

The ultimate CEO hack is realizing that if you run your own race, you cannot lose. Running your own race doesn't mean you ignore the market entirely; it means you change the question of how you provide value. By focusing on your unique path and intentionality, you move away from the noise of comparison and toward a sustainable business built on your own terms.

Previous Episode: https://iamceo.co/iam2736-how-raising-your-prices-can-help-your-business-grow/

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Transcription:

Gresham Harkless 00:00
One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is thinking they're losing, when in reality, they're just running the wrong race. We look around, we see competitors growing faster, louder, flashier, and we assume we're behind. But here's the truth. As I always say, if you run your own race, you can't lose. And this idea shows up clearly in the Blue Ocean Strategy One of my favorite CEO hacks.

If you're building something meaningful, you're in the right place. This is the I Am CEO Podcast. I'm gresh, and for over a decade I've had the honor and the privilege of Learning directly from CEOs, entrepreneurs and business owners just like you on how to build. After recording more than 1600 episodes, one thing has become clear. Success isn't about following someone else's blueprint. And as I like to say on the show, if you run your own race, you can't lose, even when you feel the journey should be a straight and linear path. What I've come to find out is success is a lot more like a plate of spaghetti. So in this special segment and episode, I'm starting to curate and share some CEO hacks and CEO nuggets that I've been dying to share. Drawn from thousands of episodes with phenomenal guests that have provided awesome value on the show, but also my 10 years of business experience as well too. These lessons are designed to strengthen the foundational principles that every business is built on and guided by a simple equation that we always go back to with our content. Visibility plus resources times connections equals success. This is practical wisdom you can apply almost immediately, so be sure to check out the show notes for more resources and next steps on how to level up. And of course, enjoy this special episode of the I Am CEO Podcast.

Gresham Harkless 01:47
One of the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make is thinking they're losing, when in reality, they're just running the wrong race. We look around, we see competitors growing faster, louder, flashier, and we assume we're behind. But here's the truth. As I always say, if you run your own race, you can't lose. And this idea shows up clearly in the Blue Ocean Strategy. One of my favorite CEO hacks. What happens is most entrepreneurs are competing in crowded markets. Same offer, same messaging, and same tactics. What this does is it creates constant, constant comparison. Not to mention pricing pressure, marketing fatigue, and the all too often second guessing of every single decision. And the reason why comparison is so dangerous is because it pulls you out of a strategy and you get into reaction mode. And instead of actually building with intentionality, you start copying, and unfortunately, it happens so often. That's how your momentum stalls, and that's how burnout starts. Keep this in mind. Running your own race doesn't mean ignoring the market. It actually means changing the question.