I recently got back into bouldering. Keep reading, I’ll compare how content creation is like going to the gym.
It felt good to move again, but I wasn’t ready for how quickly my brain slipped into comparison mode.
You walk into the gym and instantly spot people who are stronger.
Better technique. Flowing up the wall like they’re weightless.
Meanwhile, I’m re-learning basic routes and trying not to slip off a giant plastic hold.
And that tiny voice shows up:
“You’re behind.”
“You used to be better.”
“Everyone else is progressing faster than you.”
It’s wild how fast comparison steals the joy out of something you actually love.
But here’s the thing I’ve had to remind myself:
Comparison is a recipe for distraction.
It pulls your focus away from the only thing you can control… your own climb.
Once I paid attention to my own hands, my own feet, my own route…
I enjoyed the session more.
I felt present more.
I felt strong again, not because I was the best person in the room, but because I showed up.
And in a funny way, bouldering is just content creation in disguise.
When you’re online, someone will always be “better”:
- better writers
- better storytellers
- better video creators
- better at something
If you’re not careful, their success becomes noise that derails your own momentum.
But here’s what I’ve learned from coaching hundreds of people:
Content is not a competition.
Content is a personal practice.
It trains your communication.
It sharpens your thinking.
It helps you articulate what matters.
It attracts opportunities you didn’t even know were possible.
And the benefits stack quietly over time, just like climbing.
Every post builds confidence.
Every idea strengthens your voice.
Every story teaches you something new about yourself.
You don’t need to “catch up” to anyone.
You just need to keep going.
You just need to show up and do your thing.
So if you’re feeling behind — in your fitness, your creativity, your business, your content — this is your reminder:
Stay on your wall.
Climb your own route.
Your pace is the perfect pace.
The view at the top feels better when you didn’t rush to beat anyone there.
