Psychology is one of the most underrated tools in both professional life and everyday situations. We use it constantly—often without realizing it. Whether it’s in sales, leadership, or strategy, psychological mechanisms shape how we make decisions, build relationships, and respond to different situations.
But why do I write so often about psychology? The short answer is that I always ask why. And when you ask why enough times, you often end up in psychology. Because it all comes down to how the brain works.
Psychology – The Secret Ingredient of Success
We humans have a lot in common, and one of the most important things is how our brains function. This knowledge is something the biggest companies use to maximize profits and succeed. The best HR professionals understand why employees react the way they do. The best marketers know which triggers make people act. And the best developers create intuitive solutions because they understand how users think.
Understanding the psychology behind why we act the way we do is perhaps one of the best-kept secrets in the business world. Those who truly master it don’t act randomly—they adapt to the situation and the goal they want to achieve.
Take negotiation, for example: It’s not about technical rules but about the psychological mechanisms used to gain agreement. Or pricing strategies: It’s not just a simple equation based on costs, but a calculated manipulation of the consumer’s perception of value.
How My Interest in Psychology Began
I’m not an expert in psychology, and I don’t claim to have deep academic knowledge. But I’ve long been fascinated by how this knowledge can be applied in everything from sales to strategy and communication.
About ten years ago, I came across an article about the psychology behind our purchasing decisions. It was a real eye-opener. Since then, I’ve returned to the topic again and again—not because I want to become a psychologist, but because I see how useful this knowledge is in working life—and in life in general. The more I learn, the more I realize how valuable it is to understand why we think and act the way we do.
I Don’t Remember Everything—But I Know Where to Find It
Do I remember everything I read and always manage to apply theory in practice? Absolutely not. But I don’t have to. As long as I know that “pricing psychology” exists, I can always look it up when working on a project. Just knowing that people react to colors in certain ways allows me to Google a color psychology chart if I’m, for instance, designing a logo.
Everything depends on the situation and what I want to achieve. Maybe I set a scientifically calculated price for a product and it sells well, but then I get some free time to tweak and optimize—that’s when I dive deeper and refresh my knowledge of the psychology behind it.
Each time, I remember a little more of the details and nuances, and over time, I can apply that knowledge from the start. But remember: Don’t let perfect become the enemy of good. You can dig into everything to make it better—but choose your battles.
Also read: When Perfect Becomes the Enemy of Good.
Did You Know That Experience and Psychology Are Basically the Same Thing?
I’ve never attended a school that taught me what’s right and wrong. I’m self-taught, and throughout life I’ve had to figure things out on my own. That means I often have to work a little harder—not because I have to, but because I want to be sure the knowledge I build on is actually true.
This means much of my free time has been spent doing what is essentially work—not because anyone asked me to, but because I want to ground things in facts. I don’t just want to believe something is true; I want to know why it is.
When billions of people over time react the same way in a given situation, it becomes a pattern we can predict. This collective experience is translated into what we call psychology—we conclude that when A happens, the brain responds with B.
Ironically, most people are happy to hear about a personal experience, but if you start talking about psychology, they quickly lose interest. Many think those who are into psychology either study it because they have personal issues or because they’re a bit fanatical. And yes—like most people, I’ve got my own stuff. But I don’t see psychology as an obsession or a “fix myself” project.
The difference between me and many others is that I try to anchor my experiences in psychology—to check whether my thinking is accurate or if I’m off track. The more I learn, the more I see how often intuition and experience have a scientific explanation. And when I’m wrong? That’s when I learn something new.
In reality, psychology and experience are two sides of the same coin. When enough people have the same experience, we wrap it into a concept of how the brain works—and suddenly we call it psychology.
Also read: Experience vs. Psychology.
In Conclusion
The more I learn about psychology, the more I see how useful this insight is in all areas of life—from decision-making and communication to negotiation and relationships. Psychology isn’t just something for academics to study—it’s something we all use daily, often without realizing it.
And that’s exactly what makes it so fascinating. We go through life, making decisions, building relationships, and striking deals—but we rarely stop to ask why we react the way we do. Why are we triggered by certain messages? Why do some sales strategies work better than others? Why is chemistry between people so crucial—whether in business or in love?
To illustrate this in practice, I’ve republished an article I wrote last year, where I draw parallels between sales and dating. Because at the core, they operate on the same psychological mechanisms: first impressions, trust, timing, and relationship building. This time, I’ve grounded it all in psychology—because these processes are governed by well-known psychological principles.
No matter what topic I write about, I always circle back to psychology. Because when you ask why often enough, you end up analyzing human behavior. And that doesn’t just apply to learning and work—it applies to how we build relationships, sell ideas, and communicate with others.
Also read; Why it’s so important to ask why
