The world lost a great man when famous motivational speaker and author Zig Ziglar passed away last week at the age of 86. As an ode to such a great person, let me share with you his notable thoughts on “overnight success.”
“Many times an unknown person does something spectacular and suddenly becomes a ‘hero,’ a public figure, an ‘overnight success,’ the object of much envy.” Let’s explore this ‘overnight success’ syndrome.
“Several years ago, Gary Spiess from White Lake, Minnesota, did an incredible thing. He sailed his 10-foot boat across the Atlantic Ocean in just 54 days. Most of us can only imagine what he endured to complete his 54-day ordeal, but suddenly the whole world knew who he was.
“What is the real story? Did he just have a good idea, implement it and “luck” into celebrity status? The reality is that, Gary had worked, planned, sacrificed and studied for three years to build his boat. He committed not only his money but 100 percent of his spare time for three solid years. He had to chart his course and plan every detail, down to the minutia – including maximum use of his space and the proper food, clothing and water to carry. Once the trip began, so did the danger. The most dangerous and difficult part was fighting the violent seas of the Atlantic Ocean. The seas often combined with a driving, bitterly-cold rain, which chilled him to the bone. By the time he reached England, he was so brutally battered by the cruel sea that his entire body was black and blue. Yes, it’s true he had his day in the sun, but it’s safe to say that he had sacrificed and worked in order to receive his rewards.
“Most of us are not interested in doing anything of that nature, but it is safe to say that if we’re going to accomplish anything of significance, and particularly if we’re going to maintain that significance, long hours of planning and even more of hard work are required. But it’s also safe to say it’s worth it because the effort is temporary but the satisfaction and rewards can be long-lasting.”
There is no such thing as instant success. Champions aren’t made on the day of the game. That’s simply the day when the world recognizes all the preparations that took place before that day arrived.
Adoring crowds and television cameras aren’t usually around when Champions are being made. They’re made in the early morning hours when the rest of the world is sleeping just a little bit longer; in the late evening hours when fatigue has overtaken the average person and sent him to bed. Champions are made in the thousands of little ways that they discipline themselves to do the things that everyone could do, but most people won’t.
It has taken me many years to learn that none of the “big” things I’ve done have helped me to succeed. Instead, it’s all of the little things that I did over and over. For example, the discipline to plan each day’s work the night before, no matter how tired I was, has had more to do with my success than any “big” thing I’ve ever done. Not a “big” thing, but a necessary thing in getting ready to win.
Former heavyweight boxing champion of the world Muhammad Ali said, “The fight is won or lost far away from witnesses – behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.”
Same thing in the Christian life. It’s not those big moments that make you saintly. It’s those tedious, mundane things that you constantly and consistently do well that prepare you for big successes in the coming days.
Be faithful in the little things, then you can be handed the bigger things. Prepare. Work hard and be diligent. And always remember that it wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.
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