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Comment by pyre | Hacker News Reader

  | Please don't compare yourself to anyone else. [...]
  | Your "best you" is what I wish you wished you were.

While you're somewhat right, how can you continue to improve yourself without reaching beyond what you currently are?

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You are X. Someone else is Y. The key is defining "the best you" as X++, not Y.

Taking inspiration from someone you perceive as Y and defining X++ in the pursuit of Y is fine. Just so long as you recognize success and failure are X++ and X--.

I get what you're saying, but it's not always about that. We need exemplars. We need people who are willing to stick their neck out and make change. Because you each think that if you're the only one taking a chance then you'll probably lose, but when we see others on the stage fighting the good fight then more of us will be willing to follow that example, and that allows us to build strength in numbers and win more of our battles.

I think that's what he was getting at with saying "best you". Being the "best you" that you can be would presumably mean reaching beyond the "you" that you currently are.

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