You know that feeling when you're scrolling LinkedIn during your lunch break and see another "I'm fully booked for the next three months!" post?
Your stomach drops a little.
You've been at this longer than them. You've put in the work. You've built the website. You've done the courses.
But somehow they're celebrating breakthrough after breakthrough while you're still trying to figure out why this isn't clicking for you yet.
I've been there. Looking at others in my space and just questioning why I'm not where I want to be.
What am I missing that they figured out? What's wrong with my approach?
It's one of those spirals that starts with curiosity and ends with you questioning everything you've built so far.
Here's what I've learned: their success doesn't mean you're behind. It means it's possible.
TL;DR
If you're feeling like everyone else is succeeding faster than you, it's probably because you're comparing your behind-the-scenes to their highlight reel.
When you focus on your own progress and what's actually working, you make space for the steady momentum that builds real results
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Every time you hesitate or sound uncertain, potential clients notice.
Your lack of confidence is costing you sales.
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Deep Dive: The Comparison Trap That's Stealing Your Momentum
Last month, I caught myself doing it again.
Scrolling through LinkedIn, seeing post after post of people celebrating wins, launches, full client rosters.
And there I was, wondering what I was missing.
Why wasn’t I where I wanted to be yet? What piece of the puzzle had I not figured out?
It’s that spiral where you start looking at others and end up questioning everything about your own approach.
1. Their timeline becomes your measuring stick
When someone announces they hit six figures in their first year, your steady building suddenly feels slow.
When they’re turning away clients, your struggle to land consistent work feels like proof you’re missing some key insight.
But you’re comparing your long game to their highlight moment.
2. You see their destination, not their journey
That “fully booked” post doesn’t show the 18 months of crickets before it clicked.
The “biggest month ever” celebration doesn’t mention the strategy pivots, the late nights, or the investments that didn’t work.
You’re seeing their victory lap, not their training runs.
3. Your progress becomes invisible
You’ve refined your messaging.
Your sales conversations are getting easier.
You’re more confident talking about what you do.
You understand your ideal client better than you did six months ago.
But none of that feels like progress when you’re measuring it against someone else’s fully booked calendar or five-figure launch.
4. You start questioning what’s actually working
Maybe you should copy their pricing strategy.
Maybe you should rebrand like them.
Maybe you should post more content, launch a course, or completely change your approach.
Suddenly, the steady work that’s been building your foundation feels inadequate.
The Simple Shift That Changes Everything
Stop measuring your chapter 3 against their chapter 10.
Your side business doesn't need to look like anyone else's to create financial security and choices.
Let me repeat that.
Your side business doesn't need to look like anyone else's to create financial security and choices.
Your timeline doesn't need to match theirs.
Your progress is valid even if it's not post-worthy yet.
Here’s what to focus on instead:
- How much clearer is your messaging now than six months ago?
- What skills have you developed that make you more confident?
- How has your understanding of your ideal client evolved?
- What systems are starting to feel more automatic?
- How much better are you at talking about your services?
This is the momentum that matters.
The steady, behind-the-scenes building that creates sustainable income over time.
The goal isn’t to have the most impressive Instagram story.
It’s to build something reliable that gives you options and security.
Let’s Keep the Momentum Going
Your side business is being built one conversation, one post, one small improvement at a time.
That’s not glamorous enough for social media, but it’s exactly what creates lasting success.
Here’s something nobody talks about: you can be genuinely happy for their wins AND frustrated with your own progress at the same time.
Both feelings are completely valid.
Being authentic about celebrating others doesn’t make your struggle less real.
It actually creates space for your own success to happen.
When you can cheer for them without it dimming your own light, you’re operating from abundance instead of scarcity.
Stop letting someone else’s destination post make you want to abandon your journey.
Their success doesn’t diminish your potential.
Their timeline doesn’t invalidate your progress.
You’re not behind. You’re building something real that will create the financial security and choices you want.
Hit reply and tell me: What’s one thing that’s working better in your business now than it was six months ago? I want to celebrate your real progress with you.
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Talk soon,
Kristina Portella, Business Strategist
Founder of Side Business Momentum
Where clarity meets momentum-for a business that truly fits your life.
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