You Versus You: Unlocking Your True Potential

In a world brimming with comparisons and distractions, it's easy to lose sight of the one person you should be competing with: yourself. The concept of You versus You is more than just a mindset, it’s a strategy for continuous improvement. It’s about setting clear goals, breaking them down piece by piece, and finding new ways to keep moving forward.

Here’s how you can harness this approach to push past limits and achieve real results.

1. Set a Goal - Ideally, Write It Down

The first step in your journey of self-improvement is defining a clear, measurable goal. Writing it down turns it into something tangible, something real. Whether it’s advancing in your career, mastering a new skill, or improving your fitness, a written goal keeps you focused and accountable.

Tip: Goals aren’t about hitting a perfect bullseye. Think of them like a game of horseshoes, aim slightly beyond your target to increase your chances of success.

For example, last week at Orangetheory Fitness , I took on the 500m rowing benchmark. My prior personal record (PR) was 1:50:83, so I set my new goal to break 1:50:00. That small stretch forced me to adjust my approach, focus on execution, and find the extra edge to push through.

2. Set and Follow Your Own Path—Break It Down into Component Parts

Your path is unique. The key to progress is taking a big goal and breaking it down into smaller, manageable steps. Achievement doesn’t come from willpower alone; it comes from a plan.

As my colleague Elizabeth Addlesberger always reminds her teams:

"When eating an elephant, take one bite at a time."

For short, high-intensity challenges like the 500m row, success is about holding a target split time from start to finish. But for longer endurance challenges, like the 12-minute run for distance, I take a more structured approach. I map out exact speeds for each minute to stay on track. While some prefer a “set it and forget it” pace, I know I perform better with a progressive approach adjusting speed at predetermined intervals to break the race into clear, actionable chunks.

3. Focus on What You Can Control - Block Out the Noise

In an age of social media and constant comparisons, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. But the only progress that matters is your own. The You versus You mindset means blocking out distractions and staying locked in on your growth.

During a race, others might finish ahead of you. That’s fine. What matters is staying locked into your own execution.

I’ve been there rowing through my benchmark, seeing others finish and log their results while I still had meters to go. In those moments, it’s tempting to feel discouraged. But that’s exactly when perseverance kicks in. That’s when it’s time to double down. As one of my favorite coaches says:

"Grip it and rip it."

Stay in your lane. Control your effort. Finish strong.

 4. Measure Your Results: Assess, Adjust, and Keep Moving Forward

Success isn’t about perfection, it’s about iteration. Each challenge is a chance to learn, refine, and improve.

 After every goal, ask yourself:

●       What worked?

●       What could have been better?

●       What small changes will make the biggest impact next time?

One key insight I’ve learned? Rest is a competitive advantage. Looking back at past benchmarks, I noticed I performed significantly better when I took a rest day before a big effort. That small adjustment in my training schedule has made a huge difference.

And while a PR of 0:00:32 might not seem groundbreaking (though, yes, my family heard about it), the real win isn’t just in the result - it’s in the process of learning, improving, and pushing forward.

You Versus You: The Only Competition That Matters

At the end of the day, external comparisons don’t drive real success; strategy, discipline, and perseverance do.

The You versus You mindset isn’t about beating others. It’s about unlocking your true potential by:

●       Setting clear, actionable goals

●       Breaking them down into manageable steps

●       Staying focused on your progress

●       Measuring results and continuously improving

The question isn’t where others are in their journey. The question is: Are you getting better?

👉 What’s one way you’re competing against yourself this week?