Beyond the Best: Why Comparison Can Hold You Back

New Episode Available Now!

🚀 Are you stuck in the comparison trap?

It’s easy to do. We look at top companies—Google, Apple, Amazon—and think, we need to be more like them. We idolize high-achieving leaders and ask, how can we replicate their success?

The problem? What works for them won’t necessarily work for you.

In Episode 6 of Leadership Explored, we break down why comparison can be dangerous for leaders, businesses, and teams. Instead of chasing “best practices” or “top talent,” we explore how focusing on what actually works in your unique context leads to better leadership and smarter decision-making.

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Why Comparison Can Be a Trap

💡 It’s natural to compare—humans are wired for it. But in leadership, blind benchmarking often leads to unrealistic expectations, misaligned strategies, and loss of identity.

✅ You see a company deploying updates hundreds of times a day and think you should do the same.
✅ You hear about a competitor's hiring process and assume their method will work for you.
✅ You compare yourself to high-profile leaders without seeing the full picture of their journey, resources, and advantages.

The truth? Best practices aren't always best.

👉 What’s best for Amazon might be a disaster for a healthcare company.
👉 What works for a startup won’t translate to a highly regulated industry.
👉 The top engineer at Google may not thrive in your smaller, fast-moving team.

Blindly copying others won’t solve your real problems—it just distracts you from what actually matters.

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The Myth of Hiring the “Best”

A common leadership trap? Thinking you need to hire "top talent" from elite companies to succeed.

Here’s the reality:
💼 A big-name resume doesn’t guarantee success.
⚡ Fit matters more than prestige.
🎯 The best employees aren’t just skilled—they’re aligned with your culture, goals, and challenges.

As Andy puts it in this episode:

"The person who can become a distinguished engineer at Google is not necessarily going to be the person who's going to thrive in your seven-person startup."

The takeaway? Hire for the challenges you actually have—not just for status.

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How to Shift from Comparison to Meaningful Growth

Instead of constantly measuring yourself against others, shift your focus to:
✔️ Identifying the real problems you need to solve
✔️ Recognizing your team’s unique strengths
✔️ Making improvements that actually move the needle

The best leaders don’t copy—they create.
The best teams don’t chase prestige—they build culture.
The best companies don’t follow trends—they define them.

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Listen to Episode 6 Now

This episode of Leadership Explored is packed with insights on how to escape the comparison trap, rethink what “best” really means, and focus on what actually works for you.

🎧 Listen now: www.leadershipexploredpod.com

What’s one way you’ve overcome the comparison trap in your leadership journey? Drop a comment—we’d love to hear your thoughts.

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