An online content creator explains in her book why it’s better to learn from peers than to compete

Look, I get that it sounds a bit (a lot?) delulu that I think of Deepika [Padukone] when I think of my competition. Maybe what I’m trying to say is that rather than overthinking about competition with my peers to goad myself to do better, I prefer to focus on role models. Role models don’t come with the same edge as “competing” with your peers. Light-bulb moment!

I have a vivid memory from my past where I had felt very threatened by another influencer. The kind of focus I gave it had a very negative twist on my life. It made me feel low about myself and my work. I had noticed this influencer at every event, getting fabulous opportunities that other influencers and I were never privy to. (She’s the person I mentioned in Chapter 5, the one who always had access to the best opportunities because she networked like a queen.) Feeling ‘threatened’ was a very demeaning emotion. And, honestly, I didn’t like the way I behaved as a result. In conversations with others and with myself, I would always be picking on her flaws to make myself feel better, like “Oh, she’s bought the followers”, “What has she done...

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