Yesterday + Today = Tomorrow
Have you heard of a sudden emergence of a champion in sports? One that suddenly wins all gold medals in an international competition—surfaces from nowhere to beat all previous titleholders, and record-breakers to obtain an unquestionable victory.
Most often than not, they do not get the same attention as the champions because they are not well known. Many may not believe in them, but they often train in anticipation of opportunity, which will crown their efforts with outstanding success.
It is not an easy task to change the status quo, and neither is it an easy feat to oust a current champion in sports or any other area of life. Some people have found that getting to the top from the bottom is not a task you can complete in one day.
The problem is that we get to hear the news of sudden change within a short time but assume that such individuals only came to stardom because of only the input of one day. It is rarely the case as most of them were locked up in hiding, equipping them vigorously for the opportunity that made them known. It is the sum of what they did in the past—their yesterday and what they are doing now—their today that climaxed in the recognition.
“Getting to the top from the bottom is not a task you can complete in one day.”
The story of David, son of Jesse of Bethlehem, provides a graphic picture of the value of the hidden work of preparation and its potential when such efforts encounter the relevant opportunity.
He was a shepherd boy that was faithful in keeping his father’s sheep. He did not only feed them but also protected them from all kinds of attacks from wild animals like bears and lions.
He spent a phase of his life mastering the skills where no one could notice him or appreciate him. Years went by, but there was no award neither did it seem that the little shepherd boy could ever become a hero.
A day came that the nation was challenged to war by an experienced warrior and recognised champion called Goliath. He threatened day after day, but even the experienced or trained personnel were too intimidated to take up the challenge.
“The many years of secret hard work get rewarded on a single occasion in the open.”
David got to know about it—he saw an exciting opportunity. He decided to go for it because he had built confidence through his past experiences that equipped him. Moreover, the young man built skills that have shaped his mind for the challenge, which made him confident to take the risk. He had amassed credits from his past—yesterday that added up to make his future victorious.
He was not known—nobody believed he could defeat the enemy, but nobody in the whole nation was willing to go anyway, so it became a unique opportunity.
He fought with the champion and won to the amazement of all. He defeated the enemy no one was willing to confront. Yes, he became a national hero.
Do you think he could have made a success of that opportunity if he had not developed the relevant skills and confidence?
The victory is good, but it is not just a one day job that brought it. It is not even the opportunity alone because everyone had the same privilege, but only David could turn it into gold. It is the cumulative efforts of yesterday plus today. The many years of secret hard work get rewarded on a single occasion in the open.
“The climax is the top, but you need to build to that point. It is like a pyramid where the peak is sustained by the base.”
Even if you have great opportunities, success is not guaranteed if you do not have what it takes to excel as you are likely to make a mess of the chances. The experience you require is not easy to get within a day—you need to build them before the opportunity arrives.
When your opportunity comes knocking, it is too late to get credits for yesterday and today to qualify for the instant victory that will announce you as champion tomorrow. The great tomorrow is a function of what you have done plus what you are doing now. The climax is the top, but you need to build to that point. It is like a pyramid where the peak is sustained by the base.
Waste no more time; be deliberate as you prepare for your future. Start now, and be willing to start small because it all adds up to the making of a great tomorrow.
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