Though the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh is now considered a master, he was essentially unknown in his own time. Of the more than 1,500 pieces of art he made over the course of his life, he sold only one piece. But in the century-plus since his death, the artist’s innovative, deeply emotive style has garnered acclaim the world over, and his paintings hang in museums from MoMA to the Louvre. Van Gogh’s story urges us to play the long game: Though we may not see our work pay off right away, the effort we put in adds up over time, leading us to our goals whether we can immediately see the path or not.