Gradually Then Suddenly

True success doesn’t happen overnight. The New York Times bestselling author of Win the Day reveals a life-changing truth about achievement: God is building you up steadily so you’re ready for overnight success.

“How did you go bankrupt?” Ernest Hemingway wrote in The Sun Also Rises. The answer? “Two ways: gradually then suddenly.” In this illuminating book, Mark Batterson reveals that this principle applies not just to failure, but to every area of life—especially success. Readers will identify the consistent, faithful steps they need to be taking now to set the stage for future breakthroughs.

Drawing from biblical wisdom, historical examples, and his nearly thirty years of leadership experience, Batterson shows how success happens at the speed of a seed rather than the speed of light. With compelling stories and profound insights, he demonstrates that what appears to be an “overnight” success is actually the culmination of consistent choices and persistent faith.

Gradually, Then Suddenly reveals:

• The Power of Persistence: Why staying in the game and trusting God for the results is often the difference between failure and breakthrough
• Cathedral Thinking: How taking the long view changes your daily decisions and life trajectory
• The Compound Effect: How small, faithful actions accumulate into life-changing results
• Convictions vs. Opinions: Why deep conviction in God that drives consistent action matters more than changing opinions

For anyone feeling discouraged by slow progress or wondering if their faithfulness matters, Gradually, Then Suddenly offers the encouraging truth that God is working behind the scenes through your daily obedience to prepare you for moments of dramatic breakthrough.