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By:

Asha Tripathi

14 April 2025 at 1:35:28 pm

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...

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 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.)

Trophy Snub

In the realm of cricket diplomacy, certain gestures carry symbolic weight. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, named after two cricketing titans, symbolizes the storied rivalry and camaraderie between Australia and India. Yet, Cricket Australia’s (CA) handling of the trophy presentation in Sydney displayed a glaring lack of tact. While Allan Border was invited to present the trophy to Australia’s victorious captain, Pat Cummins, Sunil Gavaskar, his Indian counterpart in the eponymous trophy, was relegated to the boundary ropes. It was a slight that, despite an apology from CA, continues to reverberate as an unnecessary insult to one of cricket’s greatest ambassadors.


Gavaskar, the original ‘Little Master’ and one of cricket’s finest batsmen, has long been the face of Indian cricket’s ascension to global relevance. His displeasure was restrained yet poignant. His sentiment was not rooted in ego but in principle. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy represents a bilateral contest, and the presence of both namesakes during the presentation should have been non-negotiable, irrespective of the match outcome.


CA’s explanation—that only one of the legends would present the trophy depending on the winner—was as ill-conceived as it was patronizing. Even as record crowds thronged the series, reflecting the growing stature of this rivalry, the presentation ceremony betrayed a lack of cultural sensitivity. While CA eventually conceded that it would have been preferable if both Border and Gavaskar had been asked to go on stage, this afterthought could hardly undo the damage.


This is not the first time Australian cricket has been accused of crossing the line from assertiveness into arrogance. The 2006 Champions Trophy ceremony in Mumbai remains a blot on its record. Then, Australian players, led by Ricky Ponting, infamously pushed Sharad Pawar, the then BCCI president, off the dais in their haste to celebrate.


While one might argue that the trophy snub in Sydney pales in comparison, its symbolism is no less damaging. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the financial behemoth of world cricket, has remained surprisingly quiet. Given that the BCCI’s influence at the International Cricket Council (ICC) is unparalleled, it must lodge a formal complaint or demand clarity on the protocols surrounding such events.


Cricket is more than just a game. It is a medium for fostering goodwill and mutual respect between nations. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy, in particular, celebrates the intertwining histories of two cricketing powerhouses. Moments like the presentation ceremony are meant to honour not just the victors but also the heritage and individuals that make the contest significant.


Gavaskar’s presence at the Sydney Cricket Ground was an opportunity to underscore this heritage. His exclusion, however inadvertent, undermined the spirit of the occasion. The Gavaskar snub is a reminder that in an era where the sport is increasingly shaped by commercial imperatives, moments that honour its rich history must not be compromised. Gavaskar, as a contemporary of cricket’s golden era and a commentator of global renown, deserves better.

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