top of page

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.)

Unyielding Champion of Democracy

The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize honours Venezuelan leader of opposition Machado even as Donald Trump’s self-aggrandising claims fail to impress Oslo.

María Corina Machado
María Corina Machado

Snubbing U.S. President Donald Trump’s self-promoting claims of peace broker par excellence, the Norwegian Nobel Committee has awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to María Corina Machado, a 58-year-old Venezuelan opposition leader who has spent decades resisting dictatorship.


While Trump has repeatedly touted his involvement for ‘ending’ conflicts from Gaza to Ukraine as evidence of his peace-making prowess, the Norwegian Nobel Committee clearly signalled that such self-promoting claims were no substitute for sustained, principled action.


Machado, an industrial engineer by training, has spent much of her political life under threat. Banned from standing in Venezuela’s 2024 presidential election, she nonetheless became the linchpin of a fragmented opposition, rallying diverse factions around the demand for free elections and representative government. The Norwegian Nobel Committee hailed her as a “key unifying figure” whose tireless advocacy for democratic rights exemplifies civilian courage in Latin America.


“Today’s award is an immense recognition of the struggle of all Venezuelans,” Machado said in a statement, acknowledging international allies without turning the spotlight on herself. Her humility contrasts sharply with Trump’s self-focused rhetoric, which frames global crises as personal triumphs rather than sustained, verifiable peace-making.


The 2024 Venezuelan election exposed the stark limits of opposition politics under Maduro. Though Maduro claimed a third term with 51 percent of the vote, opposition figures insist the results were rigged and that Machado’s preferred candidate, Edmundo González Urrutia, was the true victor. Machado herself had been disqualified by courts widely seen as loyal to the regime, forcing her to operate from hiding while continuing her activism.


Her leadership in civil society, particularly as founder of the civic group Súmate, has consistently sought to promote transparency, human rights, and democratic governance often at great personal risk. This sustained commitment contrasts with Trump, whose Nobel nominations cite fleeting interventions and unverified claims, such as his assertion that he ended “eight wars in nine months,” which glosses over ongoing conflicts and the failure of many initiatives to achieve lasting resolution.


While the White House has celebrated ceasefires in Gaza and Ukraine as achievements, many of these measures remain fragile or incomplete. Trump’s Gaza plan, for instance, has hardly produced a permanent ceasefire or addressed underlying causes of the violence.


In contrast, Machado’s decades-long struggle has led to tangible gains for Venezuelan civil society, even if the country’s democracy remains under siege.


International reactions to Machado’s award have underscored this contrast. While some political figures, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticized the committee for overlooking Trump, the decision aligns with the prize’s long-standing emphasis on principled action. In Venezuela, Machado’s recognition has been interpreted as a clear signal of international support for democratic forces under siege.


Her Nobel accolade also draws attention to her foreign policy stances, including outspoken support for Israel in the wake of Hamas’s October 2023 attacks. She condemned terrorism in all forms, reinforcing her commitment to universal principles rather than opportunistic geopolitics.


Machado’s journey to the Nobel Peace Prize is marked by personal sacrifice and unwavering dedication. A former legislator and founder of Súmate, she has faced legal and political persecution for her opposition to the Maduro regime. In 2024, after winning the opposition’s primary, she was disqualified from running for president, leading her to support Edmundo González Urrutia as the opposition candidate. Living in hiding due to safety concerns, Machado continues to advocate for democratic reforms and human rights in Venezuela.


As Venezuela grapples with ongoing political and economic crises, Machado’s award amplifies her voice while serving as a rebuke to egocentric leadership. Her courage and resilience stand in stark relief against a backdrop of authoritarian repression, electoral manipulation, and truncated civil liberties. The Nobel Committee’s decision reinforces the notion that true peace-making is measured by sustained effort and moral clarity, not by publicity or the volume of one’s statements.


Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize is a testament to her resilience and commitment to democratic ideals. It is an emblem of the ongoing fight for freedom in Venezuela, a call to international solidarity and a reminder that genuine leadership is measured by principle, perseverance, and results. If Trump is willing to take a lesson from this (though hoping he does is a futile exercise) it is that while ego-driven claims of peace-making may attract attention, only sustained, principled action commands enduring respect.

Comments

bottom of page