Improve Yourself

by Scott Harper

“Improving yourself is a lot more profitable than trying to improve others.”

Dale Carnegie

December 3, 2025

In 2023, a St. Bonaventure/Siena research survey found that 70% of Americans identify as sports fans. So, seven out of ten of you will follow my thought process. For you remaining three, I’m sure there’s something that drives you to improve.

Whether in football, golf, piano, ballet, or Monopoly, nobody wants to stink at what they put their time, money, and effort into.

Most sports have a simple goal: Score more points (or fewer in golf) than your competition. Reaching the point of saying, “I don’t keep score—I just play for fun,” probably means our competitive drive has diminished due to injuries, failures, or Father Time jumping on our back.

Leaders want improvement. Good leaders focus on improving others. Great leaders do too, but to become great, they put most of their improvement efforts into themselves.

Scoreboards generate excitement in sports by revealing comparisons against the competition. Your life’s scoreboard should only have one name and one score—your own. As you grow in leadership, stop comparing yourself to others and strive to improve yourself.

Sharper Leader:

1.      With whom do you compare yourself?

o   Action Step: Write down your “competitors,” then cross out their names. Make a new score sheet with only your name and a list of goals for improvement.

 

2.      Why do you focus on improving others?

o   Action Step: This week, put the same effort into improving yourself.  

 

3.      What intentional steps are you taking towards self-improvement?

o   Action Step: Write down one area for improvement and an action step you’ll take to get started.

 

Recommended book: How to Stop Worrying and Start Living by Dale Carnegie   

 

Before next week’s The Sharper Minute: Make a note of each time you try to improve someone else and see how that compares to the amount of effort you’re putting into yourself.  

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Lead. Learn. Grow.