When the better woman comes along, where will you stand?

Mary-Kate Steinmiller, the 26-year old fashion market editor of Teen Vogue, has recently shared a depressing take on her career:

“I’ve always said that in this industry you have to accept that there is always, always going to be someone ahead of you on the masthead, prettier, better dressed, skinnier, with more money, more respected, invited to more parties and smarter than you…”

While she’s speaking in behalf of all fashion editors in the world, her words are true for all careers and industry. A better woman always comes into our world to try and take away the respect and admiration that we enjoy.

Isn’t it sad when you take off the crown from your head and put it on the new Miss Universe… and the people cheer for this new pillar of beauty and you stand beside her suddenly invisible?

Isn’t it career-threatening when a new co-worker efficiently works on her tasks and seems to be meeting your boss’ expectations better than you?

Isn’t it bothersome when the man you thought you share mutual feelings with suddenly hangs out with a new girl?

The actuality is that there will always be someone better than every one of us, and when she comes into our worlds, we feel threatened because we do not want her to take what used to be rightfully ours – the attention, the esteem, the number one spot.

That’s truth. That’s life. End of story.

No, wait. I just have to put the concluding statement to Mary-Kate Steinmiller’s quote above:

“…So really you just have to do you and do you the best you can.”

There. Mary-Kate Steinmiller is not disheartened by the presence of a better woman, after all.  She’s just recognizing the fact that there’s always someone better than her. But the thought of it makes her more driven to master her craft.

Contrary to despair, this career woman’s words should remind us all that even though there are better people than us, it does not make us a lesser person.

When we remain composed and focused on our goals, we stay in the business unyielding. Soon enough, we will get better in our affairs too.

We have to be unassuming yet purposeful. We should not compare ourselves with other people because always, there will be greater and lesser persons than us. Comparison will only make us feel miserable or conceited.

Let the better woman take the spotlight. (It’s momentary, anyway.)