The Lifetime Behind Overnight Success 

How Years of Hard Work Led to Instant Wins 

What Does It Take to Be an Overnight Success? 

How long does success take? A year? Five years? A decade? Or maybe, as Mark R. Moore puts it, “a lifetime, and then it was overnight.” 

When I first coined and then thought about this quote, it hit me deep. As a former Squash Pro, entrepreneur, and someone who has built a career spanning multiple continents, I know firsthand that success is never as instant as it appears to outsiders.

People see the wins—the titles, the thriving business, the travel—but what they don’t see is the sacrifice, the struggle, and the relentless discipline behind it. 

I’ve spent countless hours on the court, refining my skills until muscle memory took over. I’ve faced failures in business that made me question if I was on the right path.

I’ve trained in different countries, learning from the best, absorbing knowledge, and adapting to different playing styles, all while building something bigger than myself. 

So, why does it look so effortless when success finally arrives? 

Because the real work happens in the dark—when no one is watching, when there are no cameras, no crowds, and no applause. Success isn’t about a single moment; it’s about every moment that came before it. 

It’s easy to get frustrated when things don’t seem to be moving forward fast enough. Mark R. Moore said it best: 

“One day turns into a week which turns into a month and then a year with you being frustrated that you’re in the same place saying the same things you did a year ago.” 

That quote stings because we’ve all felt that frustration. But here’s the truth: progress is happening, even when it doesn’t feel like it. The problem isn’t that success takes time—the problem is that many people quit before they break through. 

So, if you’re in the middle of your journey, wondering when your moment will come, ask yourself: Are you willing to put in the years of work for that moment of recognition? 

Because the truth is, when it finally happens, it will feel like it happened overnight. But deep down, you’ll know—it took a lifetime. 

3 Main Takeaways from My Journey 

1. Mastery Takes Time—Because It’s About Progress, Not Perfection 

When I started playing squash, I wasn’t a prodigy. I was just another kid with a racket and a dream. And like most, I believed the myth that practice makes perfect. But over time, I learned the truth—practice doesn’t create perfection; it creates progress. 

Mastery isn’t about flawless execution. It’s about showing up, putting in the work, and striving to be better than you were yesterday.

With every drill, every match, and every loss, I didn’t become perfect—I became better. And then better. And then better again. 

The same applies to entrepreneurship. You don’t build a thriving business in a single moment of brilliance. You refine your craft, analyze what worked and what didn’t, and continuously evolve.

Every setback is a lesson, every success is a stepping stone, and every attempt moves you forward. Mastery isn’t about reaching an endpoint—it’s about committing to constant improvement, knowing that “better” is always within reach. 

And this is where persistence comes in. Success is less about talent and more about endurance. As Mark R. Moore wisely put it: 

“Persistence beats resistance.” 

If you’re willing to persist—through the slow days, the frustrating days, the days when quitting seems easier—you will push past the resistance that holds most people back. 

2. The Work You Do in the Dark Defines You 

No one saw the hours I spent drilling my footwork, (meaning ghosting in squash) tweaking my game strategy, or learning from losses that stung deeply.

Likewise, in business, no one sees the countless meetings, failed pitches, and late nights that lead to a single breakthrough. The true test of success is what you do when no one is watching. 

It’s easy to show up when the stakes are high, when the crowd is watching, when the moment feels big. But success is built in the small, mundane, and often exhausting moments—the ones where quitting would be easier than continuing.

True mastery and true success are forged in those unseen hours. 

It’s waking up at 4:30 a.m. when no one is telling you to, when there’s no coach or boss holding you accountable—just you, your drive, and the promise you made to yourself.

It’s getting out of bed on the days when you’re sore, exhausted, and filled with doubt, because you know that consistency is the real difference-maker. 

Creating a structure is easy. Sticking to it is where most people fall short. There were days when I wanted to hit snooze, when my mind whispered, Take a break, no one will notice.

But the work I did when no one was watching, when I could have chosen comfort over discipline, was the work that made the difference. 

And then there are the setbacks. The days when you lose a crucial match, miss a big opportunity, or fail in a way that makes you question everything. Those are the days that test you.

Can you still show up after a crushing defeat? Can you push yourself when your body aches and your confidence is shaken? That’s what separates those who talk about success from those who earn it. 

Think about that time you felt stuck. That moment when you thought, Why am I still in the same place? Why hasn’t anything changed yet? It’s easy to think you’re not making progress when you can’t see the results right away. 

But every rep, every extra hour, every small choice to push forward is stacking up. The only thing that ensures you won’t break through is if you stop. 

3. Success Feels Sudden, But It’s the Product of Persistence 

When I landed my first major sponsorship as a pro, people said, “Wow, that happened fast.” But it wasn’t fast. It was years of grinding, networking, and proving my worth.

The same applies to business. When my company gained traction, people thought it was an overnight success, but I knew better. 

Every major achievement in my life was preceded by thousands of minor efforts—most of which went unnoticed. But every late night, every extra rep, every decision to keep going rather than give up stacked up to create the “overnight success” that people eventually saw. 

If you’ve ever looked at someone else’s success and thought, Why not me? Why not yet?—remind yourself that persistence always beats resistance.

The difference between those who succeed and those who don’t isn’t luck. It’s who keeps going when things aren’t easy, when the frustration sets in, when the progress is invisible. 

Mark R. Moore’s words ring true: 

“One day turns into a week which turns into a month and then a year with you being frustrated that you’re in the same place saying the same things you did a year ago.” 

The key to avoiding that cycle? Keep showing up. Keep doing the work. Even when it’s hard. Even when it feels like nothing is happening. Because that’s exactly when you’re building the foundation for your breakthrough. 

4. Let Go of Wanting to Win—And Win More 

In sports and in business, the desire to win can be both a driving force and a destructive weight. It’s natural to want to succeed, to crave victory, and to feel the rush of accomplishment.

But here’s the paradox: the more you focus on wanting to win, the more you pull yourself away from the actual process that leads to winning. 

One of the most important lessons I ever learned about competing came from a conversation with the legendary squash player Michael Desaulniers. Mike was known for his lightning-fast movement, his dominance on the court, and his almost effortless ability to dismantle opponents.

He was a squash genius, but when he watched me play, his insight wasn’t about my technique or my skills—it was about my mindset. 

I’ll never forget what he told me: 

“Mark, you’re as good as you need to be. Technique and desire aren’t your issue. It’s that your mind is focused on winning while you’re competing. If I ever thought of winning, I never would have won a game, let alone a match or a tournament.” 

At first, that seemed counterintuitive. How could not thinking about winning actually help me win? But as I reflected on his words, it clicked. 

When you focus too much on becoming a winner, you subtly tell yourself that you are not one yet. You create pressure, you overanalyze, and you make the moment bigger than it needs to be. That pressure can make you hesitate, tighten up, or second-guess yourself at crucial moments. 

Instead of fixating on winning, trust your training, trust your fitness, trust the moment, and fully commit to the situation. Let go of the outcome and simply enjoy it. Remember—you’re already the winner. 

Mike’s approach was radical yet simple: Trust that everything you’ve done up to this moment has prepared you. Be fully present. Stop chasing, and instead, allow yourself to perform. 

This lesson applies far beyond squash. In business, how many people get so obsessed with becoming successful that they forget to focus on the work that actually leads to success?

How many entrepreneurs are so worried about winning that they second-guess every decision, overthink every move, and lose sight of their instincts? 

The best competitors—whether in sports, business, or life—know that success isn’t about chasing the title of “winner.” It’s about fully embracing the competition itself. It’s about showing up, executing, and trusting that the results will take care of themselves. 

The moment you stop needing to win and start simply competing, that’s when you truly unlock your potential. That’s when you free yourself from the mental chains that hold so many back. And paradoxically, that’s when you actually start winning more. 

Final Thoughts: The Road to Overnight Success is Paved with Time 

Wherever you are on your journey—whether you’re an athlete, an entrepreneur, or someone pursuing a dream—remember this: There’s no such thing as true overnight success. Every big win is built on years of preparation, setbacks, and resilience. 

So, if you feel like you’re working in the shadows, unnoticed and unrewarded, keep going. Because success doesn’t happen when you expect it. It happens after you’ve put in so much work that you refuse to stop. 

One day, when your breakthrough comes, people will call it “overnight success.” And you’ll smile, knowing it took you a lifetime.