328. The Comparison Trap: What to Do When Everyone Else Seems Further Ahead

posted by:

Salome Schillack

follow @the_launch_lounge

I help coaches, creators, consultants and experts turn what they know into a business that reaches more people, makes more sales, and gives them more freedom.

Through The Launch Lounge, I teach you how to attract the right people, turn more of them into buyers, and build smarter systems for profitable growth.

So you can make a bigger impact — without your business taking over your life.

Hi, I'm Salome

Get Your First List Building Ad Up Without Wasting Time Or Money

Get Started

FREE Facebook and Instagram Ads Training

Why Does Growing Your Business Feel So Much Harder Than It Should?

Free 2-minute quiz for coaches, creators & experts

Discover The Gap In Your Online Course Marketing And Unlock Its Full Earning Potential

Take The Most-Profitable
Course Quiz

Take The Quiz

Get Your First List Building Ad Up Without Wasting Time Or Money

Get Started

FREE Facebook and Instagram Ads Training

Your First $10K Online Course Launch

A Step-By-Step Guide To Launching Your Online Course Profitably The First Time

Sign Me Up

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Get Your First List Building Ad Up Without Wasting Time Or Money

Get Started

FREE Facebook and Instagram Ads Training

Your First $10K Online Course Launch

A Step-By-Step Guide To Launching Your Online Course Profitably The First Time

Sign Me Up

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Discover The Gap In Your Online Course Marketing And Unlock Its Full Earning Potential

Take The Most-Profitable
Course Quiz

Take The Quiz

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Your First $10K Online Course Launch

A Step-By-Step Guide To Launching Your Online Course Profitably The First Time

Sign Me Up

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Get Your First List Building Ad Up Without Wasting Time Or Money

Get Started

FREE Facebook and Instagram Ads Training

follow @the_launch_lounge

I love helping course creators advertise and market their courses well!

I created The Launch Lounge to provide training and coaching resources to help you master marketing so you can make a global impact, build a highly profitable business, and live life on your own terms.

Hi, I'm Salome

Listen on..

APPLE PODCASTS | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

Why That 300K Launch You Saw on Instagram Might Be Hiding a 240K Price Tag

Why That 300K Launch You Saw on Instagram Might Be Hiding a 240K Price Tag

That sinking feeling when someone in your Facebook group celebrates a massive launch win while you're still grinding away? I'm calling it out today. 🚀

Here's what nobody tells you: that 300K launch you're comparing yourself to probably cost 240K to run. But you don't see the ad spend, the team costs, or the five failed launches before that one. You just see the highlight reel and suddenly you're spiraling into “what am I doing wrong?” territory. Last week, a student of mine who made $47,000 in her last launch was ready to quit—not because she failed, but because someone else's success looked bigger on Instagram.

If you're a course creator, coach, or online expert who's ever thought “she started after me and she's already further ahead,” this episode is your permission slip to stop the madness. I'm sharing the exact framework I gave my student that took her from “I'm done” to mapping out her entire first quarter for 2026 by morning. Because comparison isn't actually your enemy—it's trying to tell you something useful. You just need to know how to translate it.

“Comparison is information. It is not true. It's your job to translate that information into something useful instead of using it as a weapon against yourself.” ✨

🔥 In This Episode:

  • Discover why your brain is literally wired to compare (and why there's nothing wrong with you for feeling jealous)
  • Identify the three sneaky comparison traps that quietly wreck your momentum as a course creator
  • Learn my four-step comparison reset you can use in real-time when you get triggered
  • Write your own permission slips to finally let go of the “I should be further along” story
  • Transform jealousy into strategic clarity so you can build a business that works for YOUR life

Grab your favorite coffee and let's untangle that comparison spiral together. ☕️

💚 💚 💚 

Salome

Part of the Tuesday/Thursday crew? Show me your listening spot! Snap a pic and share it on Instagram Stories tagging @the_launch_lounge or email podcast@thelaunchlounge.com. Seeing our community in action seriously makes my day – can't wait to feature you! 💫


⏱️ Chapter Guide:

(00:00) The $47K launch that almost ended in quitting (and the three things that stopped the spiral) 

(02:56) Why your cave woman brain makes comparison feel like a survival threat 

(05:47) Trap #1: The dangerous game of comparing revenue without context 

(07:30) Trap #2: Why comparing seasons is like getting mad your tomato seeds aren't a garden yet 

(08:45) Trap #3: The bicycle vs. airplane problem (comparing completely different business models) 

(09:11) The first time I felt genuinely resentful in my business (and what I learned)

(11:49) Three permission slips every course creator needs to write for themselves 

(14:57) The four-step comparison reset framework you can use in real-time

(21:12) How to turn jealousy into data instead of a weapon against yourself

(24:03) Your new story for 2026: Building a business that works for YOUR life


📚 Resources Mentioned:

>> The Launch Lounge 12-Part Series for 2026 Planning

>> Share your comparison story on Instagram: Tag @the_launch_lounge

>> Email your listening setup photo to: podcast@thelaunchlounge.com

>> Other episodes you might like: 327. The Real Cost of DIY: When to Invest in Help for Your Business

>> Other episodes you might like: 326. The Permission Slip You’ve Been Waiting For

>> Other episodes you might like: 325. How to Audit Your 2025 Revenue: What Worked, What Didn’t, and What to Double Down On


🎙️ Click Here To Listen Wherever Your Get Your Podcasts 🎙️


Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts

“Valuable and funny! ★★★★★

I love these tangible tools Salome gives us! Finally a podcast with a full picture strategy. And she makes it fun which makes you remember what you learned even better and you can’t wait for the next episode to air. Thank you!”

Mtillie in Sweden

Please rate, review and follow the show. When you do, it helps me reach more people and help them create wildly profitable businesses that impact millions of people! You'll also unleash good carma get the best parking spots forever (ok, I made that up – but rating and reviewing can be your good deed for today).

Click here to go to Apple Podcasts, open the app, and scroll to the bottom of the show page. Click the 5 stars to leave a 5-star rating and leave a review for us, please. While you're there, follow the show so you never miss a single episode!


A tablet showcases a banner reading FREE: Facebook & Instagram Ads Training with a note stating, Training Taken By Over 10,000 People. Surrounding it are office supplies like a plant and notebook. Dive into this transformative 5-Day Training today!.

Get Your First List Building Ad Up Without Wasting Money!

Free 5-Day Facebook And Instagram Ads Training 

We have recorded a FREE 5-Day Video Training for you where you can look over my shoulder as I show you everything you need to know to get your first list building ads up. 

A woman sits at a table covered with various fruits and vegetables, filming herself with a smartphone on a tripod, sharing tips for Christmas productivity in a bright, modern kitchen.

follow @the_launch_lounge

Hi,

Here to help you turn your passion, knowledge and skills into a wildly profitable business that gives you complete freedom and autonomy in your life and your work.

An entrepreneur, marketer and teacher

I'm Salome

Woman sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat by a lake, meditating at sunset. She wears headphones, athletic clothes, and smiles—proof that you can nurture your well-being and practice self-care even as you grow on $5 a day. A water bottle and tablet are nearby, keeping her wellness routine both mindful and budget-friendly.

Ads, Podcast

369. The $5 Per Day Ad That Gets Instagram Followers

Learn how to get more Instagram followers with a $5 a day ad strategy that truly converts strangers into loyal followers.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

Older woman with gray hair and glasses, wearing a purple turtleneck, sits at a wooden desk typing on a laptop. She is smiling and appears focused, perhaps working to grow her email list or exploring new lead generation strategies, with a window and plants in the background.

Marketing, Podcast

368. How to Add 100 Leads to Your List in the Next 30 Days

Unlock the secrets of how to add 100 leads to my email list in 30 days with these three proven strategies.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A woman in a green hijab sits at a desk, smiling and gesturing while recording a video on her smartphone, which is mounted on a tripod. As she shares her thoughts on decision making and personal growth, a laptop and a coffee cup sit on the table in front of her.

Inspiration, Podcast

367. The One Decision That Changes Your Next 12 Months

Learn how to set business goals for the next 12 months to transform your company and achieve lasting success.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

Woman in a white dress and sunglasses relaxes on a poolside lounge chair, smiling and using a laptop—demonstrating how teamwork can drive business growth even in the most serene settings. A water feature and swimming pool form the inviting backdrop.

Business, Podcast

366. Why Those Who Scale Fastest Never Do It Alone

Discover why does building an online business alone feel so hard and learn how isolation impacts your progress.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A woman in an apron holds a potted plant and gestures an OK sign while filming herself with a smartphone on a tripod in her bright, flower-filled room, sharing tips on how to make $100K from her gardening passion.

Marketing, Podcast

365. The 3-Part System That Brings in Clients Predictably

Discover the 3-part traffic, list, and sales system that makes getting clients predictable and repeatable. (141 characters)

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A woman in athletic wear practices a seated yoga twist on a mat indoors, surrounded by houseplants and sunlight, while following behind-the-scenes launch strategies on her laptop.

Marketing, Podcast

364. How to Stop Feeling Invisible Online

Discover why AI content is killing connection — and the human fixes that actually work.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A smiling woman in sunglasses, a hat, and a plaid shirt takes a selfie while hiking near the rocky coastline, dreaming of her consistent $10K months as she points toward the sea with confidence and adventure in her eyes.

Marketing, Podcast

363. Want to Grow Faster? Stop Hiding Behind Your Content

Uncover the truth about online business growth: should I create more content or make more offers for success?

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A woman types on a laptop at a desk with a fashion magazine, smartphone, mouse, vase of purple flowers, and fashion sketches with colored swatches, while researching Meta Ads updates. The laptop screen is blank.

Launching, Podcast

362. How Million-Dollar Launches Are Built Behind the Scenes

Discover why do my online course launches fail to convert and learn the strategies for successful pre-launch preparation.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

A stylish woman in a pink fur jacket, pastel pants, and sunglasses dances in her living room during a live launch, recording herself on a smartphone mounted on a tripod. A couch with colorful pillows is in the background.

Business, Podcast

361. Stop Doing This If You Want $25K Months

Unlock the secrets to earning consistent 25K months as an online course creator with proven frameworks and strategies.

read the post →

read the post →

Hot Off The Press!
Binge Our most popular posts

listen to the

Podcast

Join our vibrant Community of creators on Instagram and let's build our Freedom Empires together.

Check out OUR 

Insta

binge watch on

YouTube

elsewhere:

Connect