Pick a rival who’s a little better than you. Chasing them is free coaching.

Someone slightly ahead gives you a standard that is visible, current and within reach, which is more useful than any abstract goal. You can see what they do differently, and the gap is small enough to be informative rather than discouraging. Choose someone far ahead and the comparison stops teaching and starts flattening.

Identify one person just above your level and watch what they actually do. Copy one habit for a month, and keep the rivalry friendly enough that you could ask them a question.