If you're new to small business, one of the best pieces of advice you can receive is, "comparison is the thief of joy." It's a lesson I'm learning through my own journey as an entrepreneur. This simple quote means that when you focus too much on what your competitors are doing and how things are going for them, it can leave you annoyed and bitter.
Don't feel discouraged if your path differs from those around you. Entrepreneurship will never be easy, and it certainly won't be handed to you on a silver platter. You just have to take it day by day and focus on your own journey. If other entrepreneurs inspire and motivate you, appreciate them for that. But remember that each entrepreneur's path is entirely their own.
At the end of the day, you don't have to be the most significant or most powerful business in your industry. You don't need to be the one with the flashiest or most innovative products or services. All you really have to offer is something that makes your customers' lives better, fulfills their needs, and does so at a reasonable price. When you're sitting there looking at your accomplishments and feeling good about yourself, that will define your self-worth. If your customers would say "yes" if you asked them if they were satisfied with the product you sold them, you can confidently call yourself a success.