You finish a lecture, check LinkedIn, and there it is: someone your age celebrating a promotion, overseas internship, or a “dream role” in finance. It’s easy to feel like everyone else is sprinting ahead while you’re stuck in first gear. But that feeling is far more common than you think and what matters is not who is ahead, but how you define success for you.
The comparison trap
In the finance world, benchmarking becomes automatic. Your peer got into the grad programme, your friend’s side hustle looks glamorous, the intern-posting you missed is now filled. You might hear your inner voice whisper, “Am I behind?”The key realisation: success is a timeline, not a race. The metrics you see online rarely show the full picture of strategy, setbacks, sacrifices and development.
What you really see vs what’s really happening
The truth is most stories you see highlight finish lines, not the mile markers passed, the off months or the pivot choices. When someone takes a “dream job,” you rarely hear about the 6 months of networking, the quiet side projects, the repositioning of their story. Comparing yourself to that only hides the progress you’re making quietly.
Instead, focus on your own path: the classes you’re mastering, the small wins you’re collecting, the conversations you’re having. These build momentum, even when the spotlight isn’t shining.
Redefining your measurement of success
Ask yourself: What does success look like for me right now? Maybe it’s understanding financial modelling by December. Maybe it’s building confidence to speak up in team meetings. Maybe it’s securing one mentor who specialises in ESG investing. Defining success by learning, progress and alignment rather than by timelines or others’ milestones gives you clarity and control.
Creating your “success roadmap”
Instead of reacting to others’ milestones, build your own. Identify 2–3 things you want to achieve this next quarter (not just grades). For example:
I’ll participate in one student finance case competition.
I’ll take a coffee chat with a finance professional outside my university network.
I’ll publish one blog post or LinkedIn comment on a topic I’m curious about.
When you anchor your view of success to your actions, you regain agency.
Embracing slow momentum
In finance and career growth, momentum often comes in “slow growth” phases: extra research after class, staying late to understand a concept, turning a casual conversation into a helpful contact. These moments don’t scream “success” on social media, but they compound. Over time, you’ll look back and realise they mattered more than rapid promotions.
When you do feel behind
It’s okay to feel behind sometimes. Use that feeling as a signal:
Are you comparing the wrong metric (job title vs. skill mastery)?
Are you stuck watching others rather than taking your next step?
When you strengthen your foundation now skills, network, curiosity you’ll be ready when opportunities arrive.
Celebrating your version of success
Create a habit: once a month, list your three wins. They don’t have to be big. Maybe you asked a question in a lecture, managed your time better, or reached out to someone you respect. Tracking wins builds confidence and reminds you that you are moving forward.
Final thought
You’re not behind because someone else is ahead. You’re on your path. Your pace is valid. Your milestones matter. Success doesn’t wait, it unfolds when you define, design and own it. Keep building quietly, consistently, and you’ll arrive not because you sprinted but because you stayed true to your direction.