Why “Beating Yesterday” Is a Myth
Garmin, the company that makes sports watches and fitness trackers, once had as its tagline, Beat Yesterday.
In their advertising, you’d see sleek runners and cyclists racing down the road, glancing at their devices, trying to top their previous session’s personal best.
In other words, beat yesterday.
For anyone who runs, cycles, or does any kind of regular exercise, you know that beating yesterday rarely happens. Some days, your legs feel like lead. Some days, the weather, your energy, or even life itself gets in the way. Aches and pains, even broken bones, are part of the exercise journey. And so is burnout.
Progress—real progress—in a recreational sport happens over a long period, with breaks to recover and heal from stressful efforts.
And it’s the same in your career journey.
Between KPIs, OKRs, and revenue targets, there’s a near-constant push to be better than yesterday in the office. But that’s not always possible. Department shifts, layoffs, and external factors can throw off even the best company plan.
And in your own life, issues at home, with friends, finances, and even your commute can slow your progress.
The constant drumbeat of performance at all costs—and all the time—can lead to burnout. Rather than meeting those KPIs, you’re struggling just to get out of bed in the morning. And weekends become a time to hide away from the world, rather than a joyful time with family and friends.
What If We Measured Progress Differently?
The beat yesterday mentality can work well, in small bursts. It’s useful for athletes setting personal records or companies trying to push through a major project. But as a long-term strategy? It’s a fast track to exhaustion and burnout.
For you, rather than measuring progress by constant upward movement, why not try redefining what success looks like? It’s not about beating yesterday—it’s about building something sustainable.
A few years ago, I was working in a high-pressure newsroom. Every day felt like a Super Bowl moment—high stakes, high stress, and little room for error. But you can’t play at that level every single day without paying some sort of price. The journalists who lasted weren’t the ones grinding endlessly; they were the ones who knew when to ease up, when to ask for help, and when to take a step back (or a day off) before moving forward again.
How to Avoid Burnout While Still Moving Forward
Let’s look closer at burnout. It’s more than just working too much—it’s about working without recovery. It’s about feeling like you have to grind every day, or else, you’ll fall behind.
Here’s what I want you to know: even the best athletes build rest days into their training. Those “mental health days” we all joke about? They’re more important than we give them credit for. Maybe, if you think you need one, then you actually do need it.
Here are a few other ways to stay in the game for the long haul:
Recognize that small wins count. If you ran a little farther today, great. If you didn’t, but you showed up anyway, that’s still a win. And the same goes for your career—some days are for breakthroughs, and some are for showing up and staying steady.
Give yourself grace. When I suffered a calf strain that took me out of running for weeks, I had to celebrate the little victories—walking without pain, then walking farther, then slowly working my way back to running. The same principle applies to your work.
Surround yourself with a team. Even sports that look like solo efforts—running, cycling—are backed by a team. Work is no different. Whether it’s mentors, supportive colleagues, or friends who remind you to take a breath, your career isn’t a one-person race.
Sustainable Success is Smarter Success
Instead of trying to beat yesterday, why not try learning from yesterday. Some days, progress might mean pushing a little harder. Other days, it might mean knowing when to rest, reset, and build for the future.
Your career, like any long-distance race, isn’t about burning out at the halfway mark. It’s about staying strong for the journey ahead.
I’m Richard Taliaferro. I’m a certified health and career coach specializing in helping mid-stage professionals gain clarity on their career journey. I’ve written a guide on how to escape the work hamster wheel. Click here to download yours.