Winning Means Being Better Than Yesterday

When we think of winning, it’s easy to picture a gold medal, a trophy, or being the best in the room. But true winning isn’t about being number one right away—it’s about being a little better today than you were yesterday.

Too often, we get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. We measure our worth against their achievements, forgetting that everyone is on their own unique journey. The truth is, the only person you really need to compete with is yourself.

I learned this lesson early in my cycling career. When I first started racing my trike, the head coach told me I was the fastest T2 woman in the world. I believed it—until my very first World Championships in 2011, when I came second to a Canadian rider who, in fact, was the fastest in the world. I was bitterly disappointed.

But looking back, I realised I had the wrong perspective. At my very first Worlds, I came second in the world! That was an incredible achievement. What I needed to change was the narrative in my head—not to compare myself to her, but to focus on becoming a better version of me each day in training, so that when I raced again, I wasn’t racing against her, I was racing against myself.

When I worked on me the difference was incredible!

Progress doesn’t happen in giant leaps; it’s built in small, steady steps. It’s the 1 percent improvements each day—the small choices, the little habits—that add up to big changes over time. Whether it’s choosing to push yourself for one more rep at the gym, writing a few extra sentences for your book, or taking five minutes to reflect on gratitude, these tiny shifts create momentum.

Being “better than yesterday” isn’t about perfection—it’s about intention. It’s about showing up consistently and doing something today that future you will thank you for.

So instead of asking, “Am I the best?” try asking, “Am I better than I was yesterday?” That’s the real win. Because if you can string enough of those days together, you’ll find yourself far ahead of where you ever imagined.

Second place taught me the greatest lesson: race against yourself, and you’ll always move forward.