In the book 4-Hour Work Week author Timothy Ferriss tells an interesting story about challenging some Princeton students to a competition:

The first person to contact a seemingly impossible person to reach (Bill Clinton, JLo, JD Salinger, etc.) and ask them three questions would win a trip to anywhere in the world.

Out of a whole class of students, NONE of them accepted his challenge. Many thought the challenge was impossible, but the most common excuse was comparison. They thought the other students would certainly get there first. They didn’t think there was any point in trying.

Such a great lesson on the barrier of comparison. How many times have we been stopped in our tracks because we thought someone else could write a better book than we can… or plant a better church… or do a better job than we can?

I think most of us walk the line between passion and peacefulness. We play it safe because we fear failure and criticism.

I think most of us wake up every day with the goal of not looking bad or bringing undesirable attention to ourselves.

But if you want to make an impact it will come along with personal unrest.

If you are executing the same creative ideas you did last year because they worked, you are already on the decline.

Take time to tweak, review, and correct your work.

Don’t simply trot out the same old presentation because it worked last time.

Make it better!

1 – Comparison
Dave Bartlett often reminds our church staff that comparison kills. If you compare yourself to others you’ll either be in some sort of depressed mode or on the verge of another joy stealer…

2 – Pride
Anytime I have ever thought, “Wow, I’m good!” God always brings me back down.

3 – Busyness
When all your effort goes to keeping dozens of plates spinning, you rob yourself the joy of flourishing.