Imposter Syndrome hit me hard recently.

I was scrolling through my Instagram ‘For You’ page when I stumbled upon a post from a designer who had recently worked with a client that ghosted me last spring. For a moment, my heart sank—not out of resentment toward the client or the designer, but because a flood of self-doubt crept in. I couldn’t help but wonder, What did this designer offer that I didn’t? Her pricing was comparable to mine, and our styles were strikingly similar.

But here’s the thing—just because that client ghosted me doesn’t mean I failed.

The right designer for them was out there, and I can genuinely be glad for that. However, this encounter triggered something deeper within me, a spiral of comparison that had me analyzing the designer’s Instagram, website, and Pinterest, searching for ways I could “keep up” or “compete.”

We’ve all been there, haven’t we? We dive into other designers’ profiles, noting what we feel we’re lacking—branding styles, service offers, client testimonials.

It’s so easy for our minds to slip into, “I need to do more, be more, to compete.” But does it serve us? More importantly, does it serve our clients?

That spiral of comparison leads us to focus on what we don’t have, making us feel like we’re falling behind. In reality, every designer has their own unique flair and strengths. What works for one designer and their clients might not align with the next. By trying to compete, we dilute our own uniqueness, and in doing so, we risk losing sight of the clients who are truly aligned with us.

Rather than falling into the jealousy trap, I realized something crucial: this other designer wasn’t my competition. In fact, their success didn’t mean I wasn’t successful—it simply meant they found the clients who were right for them, and I’ll do the same with mine.

There’s plenty of room for all of us in this creative space, and my clients will always be drawn to what makes me, me.

When I pour my energy into serving my clients authentically, I flourish, and so do they.

The next time you find yourself comparing, take a step back. Don’t let comparison steal your joy or creativity. You’re not here to compete; you’re here to create, to inspire, and to serve your clients in a way that no one else can. There’s beauty in what you bring to the table, and that’s worth holding on to.