WIN Each Day

WIN Each Day

What are you trying to accomplish right now? What small goals do you have for yourself today or this week? What bigger goals are you working toward this month? These are questions I ask myself and because I am always striving for success and want to be productive (aka win), I always ask myself:

W(hat’s) I(mportant) N(ow)?

It’s important to keep my eyes on the prize and the outcome I’m working toward. The clearer the target, the greater the chance of hitting it. When I was training for the Olympics, every week I had something specific I was focused on improving as an individual, and our team had goals we worked on together. That intentional focus helped prepare us for the podium.

As much as I believe in looking ahead and striving for growth, I also know how valuable it is to look back. When things get tough, it helps to reflect on how far I’ve come. Growth takes time, and sometimes I don’t realize how much I’ve improved until I take a step back and recognize the lessons learned along the way.

Last month, I had the chance to visit two places that shaped my journey. I spoke to the softball program at Don Lugo High School—my old high school, the very field where I first started to bloom. I told the players that just four years after graduating, I was standing on the Olympic podium with my teammates, winning gold in the first-ever Olympic softball competition. At 17, I never could have imagined that my future held gold.

It didn’t happen overnight, but it happened because of discipline and daily commitment. I put in the work every day, listened to my college coach’s instruction, and surrounded myself with elite athletes who were also chasing excellence. That dedication gave me opportunities to shine under pressure, which led to an invitation to try out for Team USA. From there, I spent a decade representing my country on the field.

Looking back, I see how those extra hours after practice—when everyone else had packed up and gone home—paid off. I remember my sophomore season as a pitcher, when our team made it to the State Championship game. We fell short in the final, but that loss fueled my hunger to get better. That season, I finished with a 20-1 record. Even with all the success, there was still room to grow. My coach’s belief in me, my teammates’ drive, and my passion for the game all pushed me forward.

I also had the chance to speak to the softball program at Chino Hills High School, where I coached the varsity team 18 years ago. I coached for two seasons—even gave birth to my youngest in the middle of one of them! With three little ones under the age of two, I had to step away after my second year, but coaching gave me a new perspective on leadership. I saw how leadership wasn’t just about the coach—it came from within the team. Players, teammates, and colleagues all play a role in driving a team forward.

I loved leading from within as a player, but as a coach, I had to learn new ways to reach my athletes. I shared the Gold Standard recently with the teams at Chino Hills, and I was reminded how important strong leadership is at every level. The current coach is doing a great job, and it was amazing to see the program thriving.

Looking back matters. Knowing where I’m headed matters. But the most important thing? Staying present. In order to WIN each day, I remind myself: What’s Important Now?

I can’t change the past, but I can learn from it. I can’t live in the future because it’s not here yet. But today, I can make choices that set me up for success. The biggest goals start with the small, intentional actions I take right now.

Takeaways for You:

• You can’t change the past, but you can learn from it.
• You can’t live in the future, but you can take steps today to move toward your goals.
• Success doesn’t happen overnight—it happens through discipline and daily commitment.
• Surround yourself with people who push you to be better.
• Stay present, stay intentional, and WIN each day by focusing on What’s Important Now.