Playing Your Own Game

“The big question about how people behave is whether they’ve got an Inner Scorecard or an Outer Scorecard. It helps if you can be satisfied with an Inner Scorecard.” - Warren Buffett

We all have a tendency to compare ourselves to others. We compare salaries, relationships, height. You name it, we compare it.

It's natural to be competitive, to size each other up. It can even be healthy. Some people represent a higher standard that drives us to be better. Role models are important.

However, without perspective, admiration can devolve into envy and discouragement. Seeing others succeed, especially those younger, can make you feel inadequate. You start to question your self-worth and your growth stalls.

It's important to remember external comparisons are fundamentally flawed. People are too different to fairly compare.

Those who have a higher net worth might come from a wealthy family. Those more physically impressive might have genetic gifts. Our starting lines vary.

Our goals and values also vary. Some hold professional achievement above all else and are driven to work, work, work. Others value freedom, seeing work only as a means to an end. Success looks different to different people.

This makes it impossible to compare yourself to others. It's better to compare yourself against yourself.

Measure against your goals and your progress towards them. Look at your finances through the lens of your circumstances, not your peers. You're only playing against yourself. This is a single player game.

External scorecards never fit and forces you to play under other people's rules. Having an internal scorecard frees you to play your own game.