If you do something poorly that you could do well, you’re cheating yourself.

I often train in group classes at Swift River CrossFit. We’re all doing similar things so it’s easy to compare yourself to others. You can see when people are doing exceptional things and when people are cutting corners. It can be tempting to do whatever it takes to keep up or be the best.

As Teddy Roosevelt said, “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It can also be the thief of progress. What happens when you cut corners to beat someone? You feel good today, but you sacrifice the benefits of doing something well. If you practice cutting corners, you get really good at it.

Are you doing your best or trying to look better than you are?