Are you teaching in the gap or the gain?

Have you ever ended a school day feeling like you didn’t accomplish enough? Maybe you made some progress, but you still have so far to go. In our work, with the to-do list constantly growing and the expectations constantly increasing, we can easily become discouraged and depleted. What if we changed the way we think about our progress and success? We may not be able to change the workload or expectations, but we can shift our focus. And this seemingly small shift can make a big difference.

This shift in mindset around progress and success is the central idea behind The Gap and The Gain by Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy. The gap is when you measure yourself against an ideal or a moving target. It’s the distance between where you are and where you wish you were. The gain is when you measure yourself against where you started. It’s the distance you've already traveled and the growth you’ve made.

Why This Matters for Teachers

When you’re in the gap, no matter how much you’ve accomplished, it never feels like enough. You focus on the students you didn’t reach, the lesson that fell flat, or the parent email you haven’t responded to yet. But when you’re in the gain, you reflect on how far you’ve come. You consider that quiet student who finally answered a question today. You notice how much smoother your classroom routines have become. You celebrate the moments of impact, big or small. In short, being in the gap can be depleting and discouraging. It’s a long, exhausting road to burnout. Being in the gain is affirming and energizing. It helps you see the fruits of your labor.

Teaching is full of small wins. A student finally reading independently, a parent thanking you for your support, or a colleague complimenting your lesson can get lost in the shuffle of what needs to get done next. The gap and the gain remind us that how we measure our success changes how we experience it. For teachers, this shift is transformational.

Impact of The Gap and The Gain

Thinking in the gap sounds like, “My classroom procedures still aren’t smooth. Why can’t I get all students to follow directions immediately?” Gain thinking sounds like, “Last month, transitions took five minutes and left everyone frazzled. Now we’re switching activities in two minutes with less chaos. That’s real progress.” Gap thinking sounds like, “I only got through half of my lesson plan today.” Gain thinking sounds like, “My students had a rich discussion today. They were engaged and thinking critically. That’s more valuable than checking every box on my plan.” Which way of thinking is more productive?

The gain is rooted in reality and progress, while the gap is rooted in illusion and lack. When you’re in the gap, you’re measuring yourself against an ideal, a moving target that’s often impossible to reach. That ideal might be the perfect lesson, the perfect classroom, or a day with no tasks left undone. But perfection is a mirage. It moves further out as you get closer, and it leads you to feel like you’re always falling short, no matter how hard you work. In contrast, when you’re in the gain, you’re measuring yourself against where you started. That’s tangible. That’s real. And when you see evidence of your own growth, it builds confidence, motivation, and resilience.

Small Shifts, Big Impact

You don’t need to overhaul your life to get into the gain more often. Just try starting or ending your day with a gain reflection. Ask yourself: What progress did I make today? What went well? What did I handle better than before? Try tracking student growth (or any measure of success) through a gain lens. And instead of focusing only on grades or test scores, notice qualitative gains, such as confidence, curiosity, collaboration. Celebrate progress with your students. Help them see their own gains, too. “Remember how nervous you were about presentations? Look at how confident you sounded today!”

The gap and the gain can be a powerful collective shift for a team of teachers. Just imagine looking at student data or other evidences to find the gains before identifying the gaps. You could use staff meetings or PLCs for gain conversations. Instead of starting with problems to solve, try asking, “What’s a win we’ve had recently?” You’ll be surprised how it changes the energy.

You’re Further Along Than You Think

Here’s the bottom line… measuring progress from the gain gives you momentum. It helps you see your work clearly, not through the lens of perfectionism or comparison, but through the lens of growth and purpose. Focusing on the gain is good for you and for your students.

Teaching is never going to be easy, but focusing on the gain offers a way to make it more meaningful and more sustainable. You’re doing important work. You’re making a difference every day. And when you measure your success by the gains you’ve made, you start to feel that difference. So next time you’re tempted to beat yourself up for not doing enough, pause. Stop and appreciate how far you’ve come. That’s where the real magic happens.

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