Ack, I've felt the same way. I once had someone give me the exact odds of getting published. Really discouraging. (Never tell me the odds!) And yet...I've done it. It's not a bestseller, but I did it *because I stopped listening to the critics and pessimists!*

Every artist was once an amateur. Potential is good! Potential means you can make it reality. You will always be outstripped by someone else. It's the nature of things. The trick isn't being the best of all time. (It's just flat demoralizing to attempt it.) The trick is finding what you like, and doing it just a little bit better every day. ^_^

~GR

I just have a tendency to worry a lot. :P

All I can say is don't measure yourself by others successes.

Right, and my concern of others' success is what leads me to think I won't get into a company, but the other guy will.

That it can....but also focusing too much on how well others do, just puts you in a negative mood about yourself. For all you may know, you might be able to go above those who succeed around you. But you have to have the attitude that you are going to do what can do and take it as far as it can go.

If you sit and worry about how well others do and reflect it back on yourself that attitude won't come it has no reason to.

Definitely words to live by and thanks.