Why your goals feel out of reach and why they’re actually closer than you think

If you told Emiliano “Emi” Martínez in 2017 that in five years he would be a World Cup Winner, he probably would have laughed it off, telling you it was impossible. That is because in 2017 Martínez almost quit football. In an interview with former Premier League Keeper Ben Foster, Emi was quoted saying “I wanted to throw my gloves away after Arsenal loaned me out in 2017”. 

In ten years at Arsenal, Emi Martínez was loaned out six different times before making his move to Aston Villa in September of 2020.During those tough ten years at Arsenal, Emi Martínez was in what we call the “Valley of Disappointment”, a concept from James Clear’s book Atomic Habits.

The Theory

The Plateau of Latent Potential is the theory that describes the frustrating gap between consistent effort and visible results. You grind away at the fundamentals—day after day, year after year—yet progress feels invisible. Expectations rise linearly, but reality builds slowly beneath the surface until it finally breaks through in an unbelievable moment (Ex: Martínez winning the World Cup).

Emi Martínez didn't become world champion overnight. He spent a decade in the Valley of Disappointment before crossing the Plateau of Latent Potential. His breakthrough was the compound result of years of unseen work.

The lesson? Success rarely looks like a straight line upward. It's more like an iceberg: most of the growth happens below the surface, invisible until it isn't.

If you're in the valley right now—grinding without glory—remember Emi's story. The work isn't wasted; it's accumulating. Stay consistent with the fundamentals. The plateau will end, and when it does, the results can be extraordinary.

Keep going. Your World Cup moment might be closer than it feels.