Let me tell you why jealousy is fantastic and makes your life better. Professional jealousy is a great emotion to have; if you use it as a compass. Listen to it, and it will direct you towards things you want from your career or even your life. (if you use it right).
To be 100% clear, I'm talking about "Jealousy (n.) - an unhappy or angry feeling of wanting to have what someone else has."
Not to be mistaken with "Possessiveness (n.) - demanding someone's total attention and love."
In the early days of my stand-up career, before I became a "good comedian", I would waste my time and energy thinking about what some comedians are doing wrong; even worse, I'd hate on a few doing remarkably well.
I had a poor way of looking at things, coming from the victim mindset, thinking I was not where I wanted to be because of this guy or that one favouring him, her or someone else — just seeking excuses in others.
Watching one of his first specials, I remember the feeling of envy as Vlatko Stampar was getting an ovation for a joke mid-show that would put my end of the show applause to shame. Justifying the feeling in my head as "he got lucky" and "I can do that IF ONLY I..."
At that moment, something broke inside me.
IF YOU ONLY WHAT!? Another voice said. WHAT!? If you only applied yourself!? If you put as much effort into work in your stand-up career as much as him? Yeah...
That was before I called this man a friend, and now consider to be the best stand-up comedian in Croatia. But he (not only) and his success are in part responsible for my shift in the way of thinking and how I go about developing my skills and getting better.
I realised it was stupid to hate on someone when I was jealous. It's only because of myself and no one else that I am not doing what I want to be doing. I was wasting a lot of energy for nothing. So instead of being demotivated by jealousy, I used it to get INSPIRED.
I would use this feeling for things and experiences I want, but also those I don't. Just because you admire some people, you are not necessarily modelling everything they are doing in order to get closer to where you want to be - or where they are.
Because of this, I spent a few years doing nothing but stand-up. I modelled my approach to it based on what others (better than me) were doing. It paid for my wedding and put me alongside these awesome guys on the big stage.
Listen to your jealousy; give it a name. Every time you feel that sting, "oh, I wish I have / could..." whatever, stop and recognise it for what it is -Jealousy. My jealousy's name is Tiffany, and every time "Tiffany" speaks up, I have only one question for her - why?
Because if you are objective about someone who is good, and you admire them instead of hate on them, Tiffany can tell you why. Tiffany wants better experiences for you, and this is just her way of showing it.
I am lucky that my Tiffany wants me to have a better life and does not want material bullshit like tons of shoes, fancy cars and other showoff wasters of resources that mean nothing. So I hope your Tiffany doesn't waste your time. But be sure to listen to what she has to say.