The World Cup and the myth of overnight success

By Daniel Francis

Have you been keeping up with the World Cup games? Some of them have been mind-blowing to watch. We see our favourite players giving it their all to represent their countries. These athletes take the world stage and display their amazing physical abilities.

Even when watching TV, anyone can see that they are specimens of athleticism. We celebrate their goals and their wins, but it is interesting to consider that they all have a story that nobody saw.

Throughout these World Cup games, I kept coming across content on the training these players went through over the years to reach the level they are at today. For some reason, the videos I saw most often featured Erling Haaland, one of Norway’s strikers. The videos detailed his diet and what his daily training looked like.

He was very particular about what he ate, and his training days were intense, to say the least. Yet he spoke about it all as if it were just a regular, necessary step, even though it was difficult.

It made me think about the seasons of preparation God puts us through that are not glamorous but necessary, and how combative we can sometimes be towards those seasons.

God often works in hidden seasons. For example, we see in David’s life the time he spent tending sheep before his rise to become king. I remember reading about David and wondering how a shepherd who oversaw sheep could ever defeat Goliath.

When I paid closer attention to the readings, it became clear. He protected his sheep from wild animals, and through this role, he gained the ability to strike down  animals as ferocious as bears with his shepherd’s sling.

At first glance, I could not see his period of formation, but in that season, he was being amply prepared for a future that he could not fathom. I am sure he woke up daily and faithfully carried out his responsibilities.

This period of preparation can feel uncomfortable or even gruelling in many ways. Yet if we do not pay attention to what we need to develop during those times, we may miss the purpose of the season.

I recently read something that speaks powerfully to this idea. It is from The Way of Surrender by Vic Cesceri: “During these seasons—as we wait patiently, trusting that God is at work—our faith is refined, our character is sculpted, and our trust in God grows stronger.”

I thought this to be a powerful reminder that while God takes time to refine us, we must also be patient.

This article comes at a timely moment for me, as I have been reflecting recently on the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience (sometimes translated as forbearance), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Upon my reflection, I felt called to grow more deeply in each area, so that one day I may be able to say they are truly evident in my life.

What may appear to the world as sudden success is often the result of hidden faithfulness finally becoming visible. So maybe you feel like you are in a season of formation. The days may feel repetitive, uncomfortable, or even isolating.

But this may be the very season for your growth. Just as these footballers spend years refining their bodies and minds to perform on the world stage, so too must we take the time to develop our minds, bodies, and souls so that we can show up fully in our communities.

Daniel Francis is a book publisher, leadership development coach, entrepreneur, and author of The Millennial Mind, The Millennial Experience, and How to Write and Self-Publish Your Book.

As the founder of One Momentum Publishing, he helps Caribbean authors move from manuscript to publication, guiding them through editing, design, and global distribution on platforms like Amazon, positioning them as authorities in their fields.

Through his work, Daniel equips individuals with the mindset and structure needed to turn ideas into impact.

LinkedIn: Daniel Francis

IG: o.m.publishing

Website: www.ompublishing.org

Email: info@ompublishing.org