Why Do We Obsess Over Progress Speeds?

If you’re anything like me, you’re hooked on growth, hungry to improve, and eager to develop in all areas of life. But here’s the catch: it’s all too easy to fall into the toxic trap of comparing your journey with others. We scroll through social media and see people who appear to be crushing it, hitting milestones weekly, living the dream life. But remember – you’re only seeing what they want you to see. With AI, filters, and highlight reels, the gap between online persona and reality is bigger than ever.

My Own Journey: A “Slow” Week or Stealth Progress?

This week, I almost convinced myself that I’d wasted time. My diary felt empty of major wins. But when I stepped back, removed emotion from the equation, and looked at the facts, I realised: we’d actually made fantastic progress in the background. Product development advanced. Teamwork flourished. Growth happened, even if it wasn’t instantly “Instagrammable”.

And that’s the truth for most of us – progress often isn’t visible, loud or glamorous.

The Secret No One Tells You: Progress Isn’t Linear

Some weeks you level up massively, other times, you step back, stall, or feel adrift. But if you’re consistently putting in the work and leveraging your systems, team, and processes, you are moving forward. That’s a win in itself.

Here’s what I want you to remember:

• Progress is unique. Your journey is yours alone – even if you work in the same industry or sell the same product as someone else.

• Others’ “success” is rarely the whole storey. Don’t let the illusion of perfection on social feeds demoralise you.

• Never wish for others to fail. Bitterness and jealousy keep you stuck. I’ve learnt to celebrate others’ wins – and focus on improving myself.

• Luck is real – but you can influence it. Those “lucky” enough to catch a big break have also positioned themselves to seize the opportunity.

How To Keep Momentum (Even When It Feels Like You’re Crawling)

Here’s what’s worked for me across 1,800+ days of the Runpreneur Challenge:

1. Leverage – Whether it’s people, systems or data, harness what you have, but handle with respect. Leverage is a loaded gun: it can shoot you forward, or backfire fast.

2. Emotional Discipline – Take a step back from the highs and lows. Reflect on facts, not feelings.

3. Celebrate YOUR wins – big or small. The only person you have to beat is yesterday’s version of you.

The Runpreneur Challenge: My Mission To Inspire, Not Just Run

With my goal to run beyond Day 4,292, cover 40,075 km, and raise £1,000,000 for children’s causes, I know first-hand that big missions are marathons, not sprints. There are weeks I question my progress. But every step, every donation, and every day inspires me to keep moving forward.

Your Progress Doesn’t Need To Be Perfect. It Just Needs To Be Yours.

If today feels slow, keep putting one foot in front of the other. You never know when you’ll catch the wave that accelerates your journey. And while you’re at it, wish others well, celebrate your unique path, and focus on doing the right things – every single day.

Let’s grow together. Tell me: What small step have you made this week? How do you handle progress plateaus? Drop a comment below – I reply to all relevant questions and thoughts!

If you believe in my mission to help save children’s lives through the Runpreneur Challenge, help me get in front of more people:

Subscribe, Share, Like, and Comment. Together, we’ll reach new milestones – at our own pace.

Thanks as always for your support.
Keep moving, stay positive, and see you on the next run!