xoSelf: Guilty for Keeping up with the Business Joneses

xoSelf (short for Love Yourself)) is a weekly advice series where women can anonymously seek advice on topics about relationships, work, finding themselves or life challenges. xoSelf is responded to by educator & life coach Dr. Walter Hidalgo.

Dear xoSelf: I am super guilty of wanting to keep up with the “business joneses” . I love going on social media and watching other people’s success and living vicariously through them. I won’t lie, I use that as my blueprint for my own business, but I never get the success. I know that I shouldn’t do my business by keeping up with the joneses, but I just want to be able to be successful so badly and prove everyone wrong that I could be successful. How can I do better?  

Answer: People that do great things and achieve success were able to find ways that worked for them. That is to say, to quote the late great Frank Sinatra – “I did it my way!”  That’s the key to success – doing it, YOUR way!  Don’t get me wrong! Social media is an excellent platform for marketing, branding and overall business development. However, It can also be a distraction.   Ergo, too many times we try to be like someone else when in reality we use that as a scapegoat.  And while people do inspire people; at the end of the day, you have to motivate yourself enough to do it because it’s your dream, it’s your life and it’s your time!   

Related article: Does Social Media Marketing Really Work?

Dr. Walter Hidalgo is an educator and coach. He has a master’s of arts in Church History and Sociology from Union Theological Seminary at Columbia University and a doctorate from New York Theological Seminary where his focus was on the intersectionality between Hip-hop culture and socio-spiritual movements. He has taught in universities, high schools, prisons, not-for-profit organizations, and faith-based
institutions from all over the world. And finally, he is the author of the critically acclaimed book, “Beyond the Four Walls: The Rising Ministry and Spirituality of Hip-hop” where he
has worked with numerous Hip-hop artists, educators, and youth from all over the world to create spaces of fun and empowerment.