By Sarah Snyder & Patrina Pellett

Let’s talk about the thief that sneaks into almost every MSL’s head and destroys confidence.

Comparison.

You scroll LinkedIn and see another MSL posting about a new role, a podium presentation, or a major KOL connection. You tell yourself you’re happy for them (and you are), but there’s that quiet gut punch that whispers: “Why not me?”

It happens to everyone. Whether you’re a current MSL or still trying to land your first role, comparison shows up uninvited and starts rearranging your confidence.

But here’s the thing: comparison isn’t always bad. It can wreck you, or it can refine you. In this article, we’ll unpack how MSL comparison shows up in Medical Affairs and how top-performing MSLs use it as fuel for career growth and confidence.
 

Let’s unpack both sides and what to do about it.

How Successful MSLs Use Comparison to Win (Instead of Spiral)

1️⃣ When MSL Comparison Steals Your Confidence

If you’re an MSL with a PhD, you might look at colleagues with clinical backgrounds and think, “They just connect with KOLs so much easier.” If you’re in a smaller territory, you might envy peers who have high-profile national experts in theirs. If you’re still interviewing, every “thrilled to announce” post can make you feel like you’re running in place.

Comparison does something sneaky. It turns other people’s progress into proof that you’re behind. That’s not reality. That’s insecurity dressed as logic.

And once it starts, it feeds on everything: your confidence in meetings, your energy at congresses, even your willingness to apply for new roles. So how do you stop it? Not with affirmations or forced gratitude, but with awareness and ownership.

Try this instead: 

The next time comparison hits, don’t scroll away. Pause and name it. Literally say:

“That hit me harder than I expected.”

Then ask yourself why.

→ Is it about the role?

→ The visibility?

→ The confidence you saw in them?

Whatever your answer is, that’s not proof you’re behind. That’s data about what you want next. Comparison loses power the moment you turn it into information.

2️⃣ How Successful MSLs Use Comparison to Improve

In sports, you don’t improve by always playing at your level. You get sharper by playing someone who’s better. The same rule applies here.

The colleague who seems miles ahead of you? That’s your pace-setter. They’re showing you what’s possible - not what’s missing.

The trick is to move from comparison to curiosity. Instead of “They’re better,” try “What are they doing that I can learn from?”

Study how they handle KOL conversations. Notice how they share insights clearly. Watch how they talk about science with confidence and ease. That’s not envy - that’s research.

Try this instead: 

Make one person your “career training partner.” You don’t even need to tell them. Every time they post something that stings, treat it like a training run.

Ask yourself:

• What can I take from this?
  
• What skill do I need to build next?
  
• How can I use this as fuel instead of proof I’m behind?
  

Comparison becomes growth when you use it to push your pace, not question your worth.

3️⃣ The Real Fix: Compete Less, Connect More

Here’s the twist: most people you compare yourself to feel exactly the same way about someone else. The senior MSL you admire? They’re comparing themselves to a director. The job seeker who finally landed a role? They’re comparing themselves to someone who got it faster.

Everyone’s playing the same mental game. The ones who win are the ones who stop playing alone. When you turn comparison into conversation, it stops being toxic.

Send a message, comment on their post, or simply say, “That inspired me.” 

You’d be shocked how many “perfect” people admit they’ve felt the same insecurities you do.

Try this instead: 

Build a quiet “comparison circle.” Three people who motivate you - one ahead of you, one beside you, one just starting out. Check in, swap lessons, share job leads or congress wins.

It turns competition into community. Community kills comparison faster than anything else.

Final Thoughts: How Successful MSLs Use Comparison to Win (Instead of Spiral)

Comparison only steals from you when you let it set the pace. You don’t need to be them. You need to become you, but faster, bolder, and clearer. So the next time you feel that familiar sting scrolling through LinkedIn, don’t shame yourself for it.

Use it.

Because sometimes, the people who trigger your FOMO are actually the ones teaching you what’s next. And that’s not a comparison. That’s growth.

If you’re ready to grow with people who get it, who’ve been where you are and know how to turn comparison into confidence, join the RISE Community for New MSLs.