Kevin Guest, Chairman and CEO of USANA Health Sciences (NYSE: USNA), says the determination of World Cup soccer players offers a powerful lesson in grit, preparation, and persistence that extends far beyond the sports field.
The Piano Principle: A Formula for Success
Guest draws on one of the 12 principles from his book, All the Right Reasons: 12 Timeless Principles for Living a Life in Harmony, known as The Piano Principle. He explains that his parents bought a piano before a car because music was that important to them, sacrificing comfort for purpose. Guest later applied this mindset to his own career in music, business, and leadership.
“When you really want something, make it happen,” Guest said.
World Cup Athletes as Role Models
Guest observes that World Cup athletes do not achieve success by accident. “They train when no one is cheering. They recover from losses. They study, sacrifice, practice, and keep going. That’s The Piano Principle in action,” he said. He emphasizes that meaningful goals require matching desire with sacrifice, repetition, and hard work.
Discipline Over Motivation
Guest notes that many people like the idea of success but few embrace the discipline required to earn it. “The players who reach the World Cup have learned how to stay committed when the work gets repetitive, painful or invisible,” he said. He stresses that success often comes down to understanding one’s passion and having the willingness to turn it into something great.
“It’s easy to dream. The hard part is doing the work,” Guest added.
Five Ways to Apply The Piano Principle
Guest offers five practical steps for readers to benefit from the principle:
- Build stronger discipline: Stop waiting for motivation and start working because the goal matters.
- Push through setbacks: Treat losses, criticism, and mistakes as part of the process, not reasons to quit.
- Improve performance: Repetition sharpens skill; practice under pressure builds confidence when stakes rise.
- Strengthen purpose: Make better choices by knowing what matters most and what you are willing to sacrifice.
- Create momentum: Small daily actions compound into progress in career, health, leadership, or relationships.
The Hidden Work Behind Success
Guest says the World Cup reminds people that achievement rarely looks glamorous up close. “What we see on game day is the highlight. What we don’t see are the years of conditioning, missed comfort, early mornings, disappointment and private determination. That’s where success gets built,” he concluded.
