Anabelle Smith: How I stop comparing and started finding joy at work

ARTICLE

1 August 2025

3 min read

Career comparison is something I’ve wrestled with throughout my career, whether it was striving for Olympic medals or stepping into the unknown after retiring from professional sport, I’ve faced more than a few moments where I questioned where I stood in my career. Am I doing enough? Am I falling behind? And while it’s completely normal to fall into these negative thought patterns, they’re often more self-limiting than helpful.

With my professional athletic career now behind me, I’m re-entering the workforce, a little later than most. Those old comparative thoughts? They’ve reared their head more than once. Here’s how I tune them out and stay focused on the road ahead.

Know your values

When I retired at 31, I’d never had a full-time job outside of sport. The transition was daunting. Suddenly, I found myself looking around thinking, “everyone else my age is so established. Am I behind?” But this sense of being behind or doing less were compounded during periods when I wasn’t connected to who I was or what I truly wanted.

Now, whenever I find myself caught in that trap of comparison, I bring it back to this: What do I want? Where do I want to be in 2 or 10 years? What do I value? Not what society expects, or what my peers are doing, but what makes me feel energised, aligned and fulfilled. Taking a moment to identify the things I enjoy - movement, health, wellness, helped me move towards a new career that I not only enjoy but feel connected to. If you find yourself stuck on a similar mental plane, take a moment and check in with yourself and your values.

Understand no path is the same

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learnt—both during my diving career and beyond—is that success doesn’t follow a single template. In elite sport, it’s tempting to compare medals, rankings, or how quickly someone qualifies for a team. But I came to understand that the path to success is deeply personal. Some athletes peak early, others later; some take detours or face setbacks that shape them in ways you can’t measure on paper.

It’s the same outside of sport. Watching peers hit milestones like buying homes, climbing the corporate ladder, starting families, can all spark those “am I behind?” thoughts. But there is no universal timeline. What matters most is aligning your path with your own values, strengths and passions. Once you truly grasp that, comparison loses its sting and your timeline becomes something to embrace, not question. After all, there’s no deadline for figuring it all out.

Embracing change is brave
It can be scary to admit you want something different. Maybe you're in a job that doesn’t feel right, but everyone else around you seems to be climbing the ladder. Making a change might feel like falling behind, but staying stuck isn’t the answer either. I’ve learnt that real bravery often means stepping sideways or even backwards so you can move forward on your own terms. If something’s not working, give yourself permission to pivot.

Find your mentors

One of the most helpful things I did during my transition was to speak to a range of working professionals outside of my immediate bubble who helped me gain clarity on the career I wanted and how to get there. In fact, if I hadn’t spoken to a career's advisor, I would have never discovered the possibilities that are now open to me.

Networking, finding a mentor and even chatting to a professional careers coach are invaluable ways to gain clarity, experience new opportunities and most of all, find support when you are struggling to find yourself. We don’t have to do it all alone and if really you think about it, why should we?

Career comparison is normal, but it doesn’t have to define you. The more you can reconnect with what matters to you, the less those outside pressures will pull you off course. We’re all figuring it out as we go.

Disclaimer:
Copyright © 2025 AIA Australia Limited (ABN 79 004 837 861 AFSL 230043). This is general information only, without taking into account factors like the objectives, financial situation, needs or personal circumstances of any individual and is not intended to be financial, legal, tax, medical, nutritional, health, fitness or other advice. The source information of the articles is current as of the date of publication and may be subject to change. While the information contained herein is believed to be accurate, AIA Australia expressly disclaims any and all liability for representations or warranties, expressed or implied, contained in, or for omissions from, the information.

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Anabelle Smith: How I stop comparing and started finding joy at work

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