Most people are unable to distinguish between the price and the value of a product or service. The two terms are often mistaken for one another, and that phenomenon has a lot to do with how modern commerce works. The worth (I am intentionally avoiding another word here) of most things, from basic items to luxury products, is determined by price. When advertised, a picture, a catchy phrase, or a description may follow, but it would not be sufficient to provide a clear product description. Many websites list their lowest-priced items at the top. The implication is simple and direct: that is the best value; why pay more for the same item?
Wait a second. What do you mean by “the same item?”
Are a basic sedan and a luxury car the same item? Is a house in a middle-class neighborhood the same as one in Beverly Hills? The first pair provides you with reliable transportation, and the second a safe living, but that is where the similarities end. The reason the two are priced differently is that they are designed and produced so differently that they cannot be reasonably compared. One vehicle offers reliable transportation while the other offers a unique driving and riding experience. One building provides a safe and reliable home, while the other presents an architectural and artistic statement, a technological feat, and a social status declaration.
When you come to take stock and evaluate your place in your personal and professional life, how do you assess yourself and measure your achievements? Do you compare yourself to friends, coworkers, or people you read about somewhere? If so, is that comparison accurate, or even relevant?
Are any of those people you compare yourself to like you in any way? Do they have your background, the same education and training as you, are they as capable and experienced as you? Every person charts their path according to their wishes, abilities, and availability. Taking note of others as a means of motivation and direction can be a blessing, but it should be done with reason. Doing so without discretion can be a recipe for failure. Your path should be laid with care and adjusted wisely. Competitors will come and go – the only person you will always truly compete with is you. It is okay, even advised, to look around, but never stop looking at yourself.
So, how much is that face in the mirror?