The Secret to Progress Focus on Tomorrow-Self
The secret to progress focus on tomorrow-self. When life feels overwhelming or your goals seem too far away, the best thing you can do is shift your perspective. Instead of chasing perfection today, ask yourself what small action will make tomorrow easier. That mindset—choosing progress over perfection—adds up in powerful ways, both in the saddle and beyond. Read on to know how one small action today builds a better life tomorrow.
Start With One Brick, Not the Whole Wall
Recently, I came across a line in the Farnam Street Newsletter that hit me square in the motivation muscle:
“The wisdom of tomorrow-self is this: Focus on one thing you can do today to make tomorrow easier. Repeat.”
Although this sentence is short, it carries massive truth. It reminded me just how powerful our mindset becomes when we stop living only for our today-self and start intentionally taking care of our tomorrow-self.
The Battle Between Today-Self and Tomorrow-Self
Let’s be honest: we all live in a constant tug-of-war between our impulsive, present-tense self and our mature, future-focused self.
On one hand, today-self craves ease, comfort, and instant wins.
On the other hand, tomorrow-self wants growth, consistency, and real progress.
Personally, I’ve seen this play out over and over again in my own life:
- Telling myself I’ll get gas in the morning (spoiler: I never actually have time).
- Putting off writing the next article because “I’ll feel more inspired later.”
- Skipping a ride or training session because I’m tired—only to regret it when show season rolls around.
However, when I shift gears and simply ask,
“What would tomorrow-me be grateful I did today?”
everything starts to change.
In Riding (and Life), It’s the Next Step That Matters
Far too often, we get overwhelmed by how far we want to go. Whether you’re chasing a 3′ jump, starting a new habit, or building a better version of yourself—it’s easy to feel stuck when the end goal seems far away.
Instead, try zooming in.
When you narrow your focus, the path becomes more manageable:
- That awkward half halt becomes a smooth transition.
- That steady hand turns into soft, elastic contact.
- That cross rail grows into a confident 3’ round.
Step by step, it all adds up.
And more importantly—it all starts with one small, intentional action.
Practical Mindset Shift: Don’t Build the Wall, Lay the Brick
To illustrate this point even more clearly, here’s the full quote that sparked this entire reflection:
“Imagine you are tasked with building a brick wall.
Today-self looks at the empty space in disbelief, discouraged at the size of the project.
Tomorrow-self knows no one builds a wall all at once. You build it one brick at a time.”
If you’re trying to become a better rider, a stronger business owner, or just a more grounded human—it’s not going to happen overnight.
But the first brick? You can absolutely lay that today.
And if you do, something amazing happens:
Tomorrow gets lighter. Easier. Smoother.
The Key to Accomplishing Anything: Do One Small Thing
So, what can you do when the big picture feels too big?
First, stop looking at the whole mountain.
Then, focus on just one thing:
- One sentence written
- One productive ride
- One five-minute task
- One email sent
- One rein picked up with more intention
Because here’s the truth:
“The second brick is easier to lay than the first.
The second paragraph is easier to write than the first.”
In short, momentum doesn’t come from motivation.
It comes from movement.
Final Thoughts – The Secret to Progress? Focus on Tomorrow-Self
If you want a better year, start with a better day.
If you want a better day, start with a better action.
So go ahead and ask yourself:
What’s one thing your tomorrow-self would thank you for doing today?
Do that.
Then repeat.