The Great Taboo: Professional Jealousy
How To Turn Professional Jealousy Into Admiration and Support
- It’s NOT healthy to be jealous.
- Jealousy is not the problem, it’s a symptom of the problem.
- Look inside yourself. Find out where your jealousy comes from and what sets it off.
- Be competitive, not jealous.
- Strive for success but don’t wish for someone else to fail.
- If you admire someone, befriend them. Don’t try to tear them down. (Karma bites back.)
- Direct your feelings appropriately. If another author gets a bigger advance, larger print run, more support, etc. that’s not the author’s decision, that’s the publisher’s. Don’t resent the author for accepting the very things you covet.
- Distance yourself from friends who encourage your envy. (see #1)
- Make friends with people who will help you focus on YOUR successes instead of someone else’s.
- Direct all of that misguided energy into your work. Being jealous is a waste of your precious time and resources. Write a great book, that’s the key to success.
© 2007 Sylvia Day








