Making sure my gate exists before going to get food at the airport

Comparison becomes toxic when you're measuring your beginning against someone else's middle. Different race. Different pace. Different lane. Run yours. #CompeteEveryDay

The people you're comparing yourself to? They're fighting battles you can't see. You're seeing their Day 1,000 while living your Day 1. Focus on your own progress. #CompeteEveryDay

Motivation peaks on big days. Standards are exposed on ordinary ones. #CompeteEveryDay

Nobody's coming to save you. Not your boss. Not your spouse. Not some perfect opportunity. You save yourself by showing up and competing. #CompeteEveryDay

You can't make progress forward if you keep going left to right, changing your mind. You can’t win anything if you sit around talking about it. If you want it, commit to getting it. If you don't, find something meaningful you want to get it. But back & forth ain't doing anyone

Just because you can’t see the full road to your goal doesn’t mean you should just wait for the “perfect time” when you do. Start running toward it right now. #CompeteEveryDay

How are you getting better today? ✅ Get a workout ✅ Read one chapter of a book ✅ Take your spouse on a date ✅ Invest 15 min on YouTube learning a new skill Build your best, one day at a time. #CompeteEveryDay

Healthy competition uses external models for learning. Toxic comparison uses external models for self-punishment. One makes you better. One makes you bitter. #CompeteEveryDay

After success, your standards either protect you, or they become the silent reason performance slips. Keep competing, daily.

Commitments over convenient feelings.

Standards don’t erode loudly. They fade when you stop checking them. #CompeteEveryDay

You don’t need permission to evolve. You don’t need approval to level up. Your only job is to outwork your doubts and prove your potential right. Compete for the life you know you’re capable of. 🙌 #CompeteEveryDay

They made their decision. You made yours. Don't apologize to those playing small because you chose to chase something big.

You're choosing to put in work to get better or you're choosing to regress by default. There is no in-between. #CompeteEveryDay

Standards aren’t proven on your best days. They’re revealed on the days you’d rather lower them.

Competition isn’t the problem. Unclear competition is. When teams don’t know what they’re competing for, they start competing against each other. Clarity is the discipline. #CompeteEveryDay

The most dangerous competition isn’t the person across from you — it’s the standard you quietly stopped chasing. #CompeteEveryDay

🙌 let’s go team!! Grab your copy today: competeeveryday.com/products/the-l…

Comparison isn’t destroying performance. Competing in the wrong game is. That's one of the messages Jake Thompson | Keynote Speaker is bringing as a keynote speaker at AWI Spring Leadership 2026! April 12 - 14 Las Vegas