Reminds me of Steve Pavlina's take on Ego:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2010/01/how-to-build-a-stronger-ego/

If you're gonna have an ego - inevitable from a human perspective - then just make it the best ego you can :) Why resist what's so when you can just guide it along a path that inspires you instead

Tynan, I would see you comparing yourself to a start up guy like a Zuckerman instead of a poker player.

Also: don't be afraid to jump on board a winning idea that isn't your own. I know some guys that grouped together and bought $500,000 in facebook shares a year ago. These guys are now very rich

I'm glad you made this post. I almost died of alcohol poisoning very recently, so I made a vow to myself to quit forever. While I was agonizing and wondering whether I would live or die, I was comparing myself to Steve-o who got off his drugs and reportedly is really healthy and all vegan now. Some kid has the nerve to tell me "You shouldn't do that" (compare yourself to others) while I am barely hanging on to life. It just really makes me mad when people just blurt out stupid one-liners that "sound good" but have no real thought or value attached to them.

You're going to hit where you aim. Most people just prefer to aim low. My friends are accomplished womanizers, business magnates, artists, athletes. Half the time I feel like an ant, but then I'm always working to improve ... and without realizing, I'm in a place better than 99% of the population.

One knows that modern life seems to be not cheap, however some people require money for different things and not every person gets enough cash. So to receive good loans or secured loan should be a right way out.

Tynan what cool post!....Actley i want to get back at your at last post.Bag packs are cool enough even i have one!.I used bag pack just for going places tho.(: I had to put my bag lunch in there to...Its whats good for tho!.

The nature of the mind is to compare. If is done in a certain way, like you explain, you are turning a natural occurance, that can also go horribly wrong, into a powerful experience for yourself.

I also compare myself to the best. Then I immediately turn the focus where it belongs, on me.

In this way, I am able to learn from and draw inspiration from true masters but always focus on just giving all that I can to whatever I am doing without any concern if I match or exceed anyone. The cool thing is that whenever we give all that we can... we can always give a little bit more :)

good stuff man,

~Mike

=) solid.

I was trying to generalize your exact thought one day. I've ended up with: "take any kneejerk reaction that says 'you should never do X." There's always a better version which says "you should not do X 90% of the time." Here your X is "compare yourself with others."

The reason this idea is even around is that when we compare ourselves to others, 90% of the time it is for bad reasons: to be envious or to be complacent. But like you pointed out the other 10% offers a lot of value if we recognize that 10%. As a poker player, I'm sure you know that usually the answer to a question is always "it depends."

Tynan, great post! Anyone who says they don't compare themselves with others is not being honest with themselves. We always make comparisons with others. It's part of the way human beings learn.

When I was a child, I learned so much from my father and mother by watching what they did. The good things I tried to emulate. The things that didn't work well, I discarded. As an adult, I have done similar things most of my life. It's served me well.

If you pay attention, and learn the "art" of listening, it's amazing what you can learn about life from other people. So many people are so busy trying to show how smart they are, that they don't actually try to understand anothers point of view. They simply want to debate it. If you listen to truly understand someone's perspective, you can make an informed opinion of it.

Again, good post.

Gary

I guess it's a question of where you derive your value from. If it's from the idea that you have more than others then that's not a great basis.

On the other hand, recognizing one's blessings (pretty much most people in the US) I think actually gives you a perspective out of your own narrow ego thoughts. I feel responsible to use my freedom and privileges knowing others would do anything for them.

Likewise, reading the stories of other people who've accomplished great things inspires me and gives me hope that I can do the same like living in a RV for example.