Stop Comparing, Start Growing

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along...

min read

Success does not grow in comparison; it grows in focus. Over the years, women have made significant strides in every sphere of life. From managing homes to leading organisations, from nurturing families to building successful careers, women have proved that strength and resilience are deeply rooted in their nature. Financial independence has become a significant milestone for many women today, bringing with it confidence, dignity, and the freedom to shape one’s own destiny. However, along with growth has come another silent challenge — the tendency to constantly observe, compare, and sometimes even compete with the journeys of others. But a crucial question arises: Is it necessary to track the growth of others in order to grow ourselves? From my personal experience of more than two decades as an entrepreneur, I have realised something very powerful — true growth begins the moment we stop looking sideways and start looking within. A Small Beginning I had a flourishing career of teaching abroad, but when I restarted my career after moving back to India, my beginning was extremely small. My very first assignment was a simple home tuition for a single student, and the amount I earned was meagre. There was nothing glamorous about it. No recognition, no large batches, no big earnings. Just one student and one opportunity. But instead of worrying about how others were doing, how many students they had, or how much they were earning, I made a conscious decision—my only focus would be on improving myself. I focused on teaching better, preparing better, and becoming more disciplined and consistent. And slowly, without even realising it, things began to grow. One student became two, two became a small group, and gradually, over the years, the work expanded beyond what I had initially imagined. Looking back today, I can confidently say that the growth did not happen because I competed with others. It happened because I competed with myself yesterday. Comparison Creates Noise When we keep watching others' journeys too closely, we unknowingly divert our own energy. Comparison creates unnecessary noise in our minds. It brings doubts, insecurities, and sometimes even negativity. Instead of walking our own path with clarity, we start questioning our speed, our direction, and our worth. True success grows through focus, not comparison. Every woman has her own story, her own pace, and her own struggles that others may never see. The path of one person can never be identical to another's. So comparing journeys is like comparing two different rivers flowing towards the same ocean — each with its own route, its own curves, and its own rhythm. As women, we already carry many responsibilities. We balance emotions, relationships, work, and society's expectations. In such a life, the last thing we need is the burden of comparison with one another. Instead, what we truly need is support for each other. When women encourage women, something extraordinary happens. Confidence grows. Opportunities multiply. Strength becomes collective rather than individual. There is enough space in the world for every woman to create her own identity. Each of us can build our own niche without stepping on someone else's path. Choose Encouragement Envy weakens us, but encouragement empowers us. Rather than questioning how someone else is progressing, we can ask a more meaningful question: "How can I grow a little better than I was yesterday?" Lift As You Rise Today, after twenty years of experience, the most valuable lesson I have learned is simple yet profound — focus on your own work with honesty and dedication, and success will quietly follow you. We, women, are capable, resilient, and creative. We do not need to pull each other down or compete in unhealthy ways. Instead, we can lift each other up while building our own dreams. Because when one woman rises, she does not rise alone. She inspires many others to believe that they can rise, too. And perhaps that is the most beautiful form of success. (The writer is a tutor based in Thane. Views personal.)

The ‘Nabin’ Turn in BJP Politics

Kiran D. Tare
Dec 16, 2025
3 min read

By elevating Bihar Minister Nitin Nabin as Working President of the BJP, the party signals a generational shift with some canny decision-making

New Delhi: Nitin Nabin, 50, was not the only choice of the top BJP leadership for the post of national executive president. He was among the 10 other names shortlisted by the BJP for the coveted post. Nabin’s caste, Kayastha as well as the Assembly elections scheduled in West Bengal in next year made him the final selection, according to a source in the BJP.

The BJP and its parent organisation, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) were keen on roping someone who is below age of 50, experienced in politics with a proven loyalty to the RSS. “The top brass had shortlisted at least 10 such leaders from across the country. Nitin Nabin emerged as the final selection because of the prevailing political situation,” the source told ‘The Perfect Voice.’

Nabin’s appointment also points towards a paradigm shift in the party’s policy pertaining to future leadership. “Nitin Nabin is not an isolated case,” the source said. “You may witness many young leaders taking centre stage in the party’s decision making in near future.”

By appointing Nitin Nabin at the number two position, the BJP has made it clear that its focus is firmly on building future leadership. In the party’s history, he is the youngest leader to assume such responsibility.

Bengal Files

The Kayastha community plays a decisive role in at least 15 Assembly constituencies in West Bengal. These are the constituencies adjacent to Bihar. Nitin Nabin could galvanise the community, which is otherwise a staunch BJP supporter, in its favour.

The Kayastha are in large numbers in Uttar Pradesh too which will go for the Assembly polls in 2027. The BJP has tried to pacify the Kurmi community by appointing Pankaj Choudhary, a Kurmi, as state president. The disappointment in the Kurmi community was one of the reasons behind the party’s suffering a setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha election in UP. Upset with less number of Kurmi candidates the community had put its weight behind Samajwadi Party, which had fielded sizeable Kurmi candidates.

Nabin’s appointment also serves as a message that the BJP has emphasised that politics requires dignity, humility, and decorum, and that sensationalism through provocative statements is not its political approach. A clean image and disciplined conduct continue to be core values of the party.

Nitin’s father Navin Kishore Sinha was associated with the party since the Jan Sangh era and served as a seven-time MLA from Patna. After his demise, Nitin carried forward the legacy without allowing the label of dynastic politics to be attached to him. He began his political journey with the ABVP and later joined the BJP Yuva Morcha. Though he comes from a political family he does not carry the label of dynast politician.

Gujarat Connection

A set of Gujarat politicians were grooming Nabin unbeknownst to him. The BJP’s Bihar general secretary (organisation) Bhikubhai Dalsania, the in-charge of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, Virendra Desai, and the state co-in-charge C.R. Paatil kept a close watch on Nabin. They all are from Gujarat and considered to be very close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The BJP assigned Nabin a crucial responsibility by appointing him as in-charge of Chhattisgarh. There, he focused on booth-level management, organisational expansion, and electoral coordination, leading to a decisive victory for the party. This success established that his leadership capabilities extend beyond Bihar to the national level.

Appointing an MLA of a state as a state in-charge is a rare thing in the BJP. Since the in-charge has to deal with the state’s top leadership there is a convention that a senior leader is appointed as an in-charge of the state. Nabin was an exception because he was under watch from Modi himself for the possible big role in the party.

Chhattisgarh Model

During his tenure in Chhattisgarh, Nabin toured remote regions with youth general secretaries, interacted with party workers, and aligned them with state-level priorities. He effectively advanced promises related to the election manifesto and ensured strong, targeted communication against the well-organized political machinery led by Bhupesh Baghel.

Following the BJP’s defeat in 2018, workers were demoralised due to prolonged grassroots inactivity. He initiated the ‘Mor Awas Mor Adhikar’ campaign in coordination with the state leadership, reaching nearly 18 lakh families deprived of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship housing scheme under the Congress government.

Along with Mansukh Mandaviya, he conceptualised the ‘Mahtari Vandan’ scheme as a response to Bhupesh Baghel’s loan waiver promise. This women-centric campaign became a decisive factor in the Chhattisgarh Assembly elections. Even after other leaders moved on to new roles, he continued extensive tours to strengthen the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, leading to an impressive 10 out of 10 result in the State.

2 Comments

srjoshi31.sj

Dec 18, 2025

This will meet the strategic requirements of coming Electoral results and is also for guidance and benchmarking to the future upcoming eligible candidates for the post. However, this strategy will not work for the One Nation One Election with single Working President. Many such appointments will be necessary.

srjoshi31.sj

Dec 18, 2025