Learning to Succeed One Day at a Time — Insights from “The Present”

Utkreshta Consulting
Oct 26
4 min read

Life often feels like a race. The mind pulls us in two different directions. Yesterday’s mistakes keep replaying and tomorrow’s fears keep expanding. Somewhere in between, today quietly slips away, making many quietly question whether they truly have what it takes to succeed.

Spencer Johnson’s book The Present offers a simple but powerful reminder that real capability grows not in the future we worry about or the past we regret, but in the way we live or show up today — fully, consciously, and purposefully.

Here is how I absorbed the lessons and how they can guide us to feel capable of success each day.

The Story in Short

A young boy loved mowing lawns. He enjoyed the work. He enjoyed the reward. He enjoyed becoming better with every attempt. The same mindset helped him thrive early in his career. Then reality struck: missed recognition, promotion delays, office politics. His enthusiasm faded. The work he once enjoyed became stressful.

Seeking clarity, he returned to his wise mentor who introduced him to The Present—not a physical gift, but a way of living:

Learn from the past
Live fully in the present
Work toward a meaningful future

His transformation reminds us that success is not about avoiding setbacks but about staying connected to what matters right now.

As the book says: “The Present Is The Present Moment.”

The Power of Being in the Present

The book’s key insight is that "the present moment" is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Instead of being distracted by fears of tomorrow or regrets from yesterday, focus on the present - right now unlocks creativity. Performance improves when attention improves.

Imagine unwrapping a box labeled “Now”—inside, you find clarity, energy, and happiness, ready to be embraced.

Children do this naturally. They are fully alive where they are, not lost in what-ifs.

Likewise a potter at the wheel or a mason placing one brick perfectly at a time, craftsmanship thrives only in the moment.

Consider this:

A young founder stops scrolling competitor success stories and start focusing on serving one customer better today
A professional stops multitasking and gives full attention to one task, done well

The present offers success not in having more, but in honouring what is important :

Cut the grass in front of you. Do not get distracted by the trees around. Think how you can cut around obstacles, how fast and how well

What you improve today becomes your confidence tomorrow.

What the Past Is Meant For

Life leaves loose ends: unfinished goals, mistakes, unmet expectations. That does not diminish our potential.

"The Present" encourages using past experiences as lessons—not chains. The past is useful only as a teacher. Not a place to live. The book reminds us:

A past failure may be today’s guide
A painful memory is not a permanent identity
Regret drains progress unless it converts into learning

Consider this:

Birds rebuild their nest after every storm without self-doubt.
A professional notes what they learned last year and applies it today

The past help you discover a better present – a better you, and a better future. The past must inform the present, not interrupt it.

You did the best you knew then. Now you know better. Use it.

How to Look at the Future

A better future is not granted by wishing. It is crafted in small actions today.

Tough situations demand that we find what is right even within what is going wrong.

Pain will come and go; progress must continue.

Framework from the book: Imagine → Learn → Plan → Do

Positive imagination energizes
Realistic plans guide
Daily action compounds

Consider this:

Athletes reviewing training data to improve the next race
Entrepreneurs learning basic finance instead of outsourcing everything blindly

Focus on what is important now. A small improvement today changes the direction of tomorrow.

Purpose as the Bridge

The book beautifully reinforces that real joy comes not from rewards, but from contribution.

In the book, the boy realizes:

Purpose decides how we respond
Purpose lifts performance in ordinary tasks
Purpose keeps us grounded when results fluctuate

Consider this:

A mason placing bricks is building someone’s dream shelter.
A nurse performing a routine check is strengthening someone’s life.
A teacher repeating the same lesson is shaping someone’s tomorrow.

Purpose is what ties together past experiences, present actions, and future ambitions into a meaningful whole. Purpose converts effort into meaning - daily actions into progress that matters.

Important is not what you are doing, but why are you doing. The why defines what is right for you, right in the moment.

A salesperson struggling during recession reframes the goal from “closing more deals” to “helping customers find the right solution.” Performance rises because intention becomes meaningful.

Everyday Action: Practicing The Present

The Present is not a philosophy to admire. It is a daily behaviour.

The book encourages a shift from “What did I gain today?” to “What did I improve today?”

Success comes through consistency, not intensity.

Small ritual to prepare the mind:

One thing I learned
One thing I improved
One thing I will set up for tomorrow
One meaningful attempt I made today

Being happier one day at a time builds a life that feels fulfilling.

A professional attends the child’s sports day fully, without mentally checking sales numbers. Progress in life also includes progress in relationships.

Final Reflection

Life will always present new challenges. There will always be a gap between what we want and what we have. That gap can either frustrate us or inspire us.

Invest in yourself. Grow a little each day.