The Comparison Trap

Unhappy? You may be comparing yourself to others

Theodore Roosevelt famously said that comparison is the thief of joy. Often our dissatisfaction and unhappiness are rooted in comparing ourselves to others.

Editor in Chief: HECMWorld.com

As a prominent commentator and Editor in Chief at HECMWorld.com, Shannon Hicks has played a pivotal role in reshaping the conversation around reverse mortgages. His unique perspectives and deep understanding of the industry have not only educated countless readers but has also contributed to introducing practical strategies utilizing housing wealth with a reverse mortgage.

Shannon’s journey into the world of reverse mortgages began in 2002 as an originator and his prior work in the financial services industry. Shannon has been covering reverse mortgage news stories since 2008 when he launched the podcast HECMWorld Weekly. Later, in 2010 he began producing the weekly video series The Industry Leader Update and Friday’s Food for Thought.

Readers wishing to submit stories or interview requests can reach our team at: info@hecmworld.com.

4 Comments

Mario Quintero
June 7, 2019 at 5:18 am
Shannon very good recommendations on not to compare, you need to work your own game!!!!
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- Shannon HicksModerator
  June 7, 2019 at 8:03 am
  “Work your own game”. Love it. Thanks Mario!
  
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John A. Smaldone
June 7, 2019 at 6:02 am
Shannon,

Well put, however, I have always felt competing is very good, but compete against yourself! Try and out do your self in every facet of your life and especially in your work as a sales representative!

Compete with yourself strive to do better this week than the last, make up a chart called, you! Put a week by week chart up and set sales goals for yourself, see if you can out do your self each week. If that does not motivate you, nothing will!

Thanks again Shannon,

John A. Smaldone
http://www.hanover-financial.com
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The_Cynic
June 10, 2019 at 5:51 am
Rules are written to be broken.

Measuring one’s achievements to those of others sometimes is the only way to get the information needed to improve the things one does or does not do. For example, I remember back in 2008 when mailers and newspaper ads just were not pulling in sufficient closed loans to even pay for the costs of marketing. Rather than trying over and over with ever lower returns, I sought out how others were doing.

I quickly found out many peers were booking seminars through more creative use of mailers and newspaper ads. When that no longer worked I went back for more sage advice. Once again I modified my marketing based in part by what others were finding to be true.
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