Comparison is your enemy in a big project

Comparison is your enemy in a big project

Author: Fluent in 3 Months July 31, 2025 Duration: 11:30

In this episode, I talk about something that keeps coming up in my own projects: the trap of comparing yourself to others. When I first started learning Spanish, I’d constantly compare myself to other learners and beat myself up over not being as good. That kind of mindset really messed with my confidence. And now, even after all these years of language learning, I’ve found myself doing the same thing—but this time with running. I’ve been training for a bunch of half marathons, and every time I open up Strava, I see people running faster, longer, and more consistently. It’s easy to start feeling like a failure all over again. But what I’ve learned—both with languages and now with running—is that comparison is a losing game. Everyone has a different starting point, different challenges, and different goals. You can’t compare apples to oranges.

Instead, I’ve found it way more productive to focus on my own progress. Whether I’m improving my pace with running or reaching the next level in a language, the goal is just to be a little better than I was yesterday. I share how I’ve learned to let go of perfectionism and stop chasing the impossible standard of being the “best.” The truth is, no matter how far you go, there will always be someone ahead of you. But that doesn’t mean you’re not doing great. If you stay consistent, you will see improvement—and that’s what really counts. So whatever project you’re working on, whether it’s language learning or something totally different, I hope this episode gives you a bit of encouragement to focus on your own journey and feel proud of how far you’ve come.


If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot


There’s a certain magic that happens when you step off a plane and try to order a meal in a language you’re still fumbling through, or when a simple conversation with a stranger on a train opens up an entirely new perspective. Language & Travel Hacking, from the team behind Fluent in 3 Months, lives in those messy, authentic, and profoundly rewarding moments. Host Benny Lewis, a nomadic polyglot and best-selling author, doesn’t just theorize from a studio; he records from the road, sharing raw, real-time experiences and the practical strategies that actually work when you’re navigating a foreign market or building confidence in a new tongue. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a well-traveled friend who’s made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. You’ll hear the sounds of street markets and train stations in the background as Benny breaks down the psychology of language learning, offers actionable tips for picking up phrases quickly, and discusses how travel itself can be the ultimate classroom. This podcast is built on the idea that fluency and cultural connection aren’t distant goals reserved for the gifted, but accessible skills you can hack through smart, intentional practice. It’s for anyone who believes that the deepest way to explore a place is through its language, and that every journey is an opportunity to reshape how you see the world-and yourself. Tune in for honest stories and tangible advice that will change how you approach your next adventure, whether it’s across the globe or right in your own neighborhood.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 271

Language & Travel Hacking
Podcast Episodes
Ask Benny: What are Language Islands? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:57
This new episode is all about language islands. Benny explains how creating these specific areas of language knowledge, based on your personal needs or interests, is a solid way to build confidence and get speaking when…
#98 Benny and Shannon on Language Learning When Life Happens [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:21
Language Hacking Podcast co-hosts Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy catch up and share what their own recent language learning projects, takeaways, and milestones have been, as they approach the 100th episode of the podcas…
#97 Louisa on Learning About Herself Through Italian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:14
Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and Italian learner, Louisa, speaks to Benny and Shannon about how she learned as much about herself, as she did about languages, while taking part in the Challenge.Louisa found a…
Ask Benny: What is the Pomodoro Technique? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:13
Benny shares how he uses the "Pomodoro Technique" in his language missions,, and explains how you can use it to work or study for longer periods of time. The Pomodoro Technique is a very accessible system of working that…
#96 Fiona’s 90-Day Italian Challenge [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:11
Fluent in 3 Months Challenge winner, Fiona, joins Benny and Elizabeth to talk about her progress learning Italian, the myth of “natural talent”, and how excited she is to speak to family, friends and Italian locals witho…
#95 Jeremy Ginsburg on "Beginner's Mind" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:33
Business coach and self-proclaimed “VietNomad”, Jeremy Ginsbury, talks with Benny Lewis about his experiences living in Israel, Ghana and Vietnam, and being on reality TV in another language.Ready to get back into more s…
Ask Benny: What's Your Favourite Language App? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:28
In this episode, Benny talks about why, after many years of using it, Anki is still his favourite app for language learning. Anki is a free flashcard app that utilises spaced repetition theory to help you learn vocabular…
#94 Sam on Comedy and Humor in Language Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:07
Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant, Sam, joins Shannon and Benny to talk about how the Challenge changed the way he learned languages and helped him find consistency and discover new language learning methods.This…
#93 Laetitia on How to Find a Great Language Tutor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:57
Fluent in 3 Months Challenge coach, Laetitia, joins Benny and Elizabeth to talk about her varied experience learning or dabbling in many languages: English, German, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Dutch and Vietnamese.This ep…
Ask Benny: Does Daily Duolingo Really Help? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:37
For this episode, Benny shares his opinions and experience of the Duolingo app. Getting points and maintaining a streak may be great motivators, but does it really work if you want to speak the language? Benny explains h…