Most comedians starting out measure themselves against the greats and the comedians they enjoy the most. When it comes to comparing yourself to the greats, it’s a losing situation and you’re only destined to lower your self-esteem.It’s okay to want similar accolades to your favorite comedian but you should not ever compare another comedian’s success to yours.
The truth is, your success only depends on what your definition of success is. It should never matter what any other person defines as success. Be satisfied and driven with your progress and set your own definitions of success.
Here are three questions to ask when measuring your success:
1. What Story Are You Telling Yourself?
Look at yourself in the mirror, take inventory to find out what story you have made up for yourself. Do you see someone who’s successful or have you been convinced by your inner critic that you’re not good enough. That voice in your head that doubts you and constantly tells you hurtful things needs to go before you can see yourself as a success. Whatever thoughts you have that are limiting you and stopping you from being successful needs to be replaced by positive reinforcement.
2. Who Are You Surrounding Yourself With?
The people you surround yourself with are one of the most important factors in determining your success. Make sure you’re surrounded by people that will encourage you, lift you when you’re down, get on you to make sure you’re doing what it takes. Normally, this will be your peers. Other comics who have the same amount of time in the game as you. You’ll build together and grow together. Also, if you can, get a mentor that will help guide you through this journey as they have already witnessed what you’re going through.
3. Are You Setting Goals?
Not just comics, but a lot of people don’t understand the importance of goal setting. To the comics that do understand, it could mean material items like owning that BMW M3. To others, it may mean getting paid corporate gigs or getting a Netflix special. Whatever you want to accomplish, write it down. Setting goals is fundamental to your success. Read them when you wake up and before you go to bed at night. Identify why you want it and what you’re willing to do to get it.
An example of a good goal when you’re starting out is to get a good 5 minute set recorded in order to submit to festivals. Once you’ve achieved any milestone, celebrate, set another milestone and check it off your goals list.
Measure your success against the story that you have created for yourself, the people that you help lift and that help keep you in line along with the accomplishment of goals that you have set for yourself.
Good luck on your journey.
BY LEE VALENTINE
This article appeared on ComedyHype
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