Psychology plays a critical role in execution, shaping how people set goals, perceive progress and define success. One of the most pervasive human tendencies is to use others as mile markers—measuring our progress or decisions by comparing them to the actions or achievements of those around us. This behavior is deeply ingrained in how we navigate everyday life and major decisions.
It is something I saw time and again when I founded the personal finance company LearnVest. Although irrational, people often decide how much they can spend based on what they see others spending. You may notice what cars your neighbors drive, and whether consciously or subconsciously, these observations shape your own financial choices.
This same phenomenon extends into our approach to work and execution. There are natural cadences that we assume are normal or reasonable, simply because they align with how others operate. Creating a presentation in a week or completing a coding sprint in two weeks feels comfortable because these time frames have become accepted mile markers.
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