This story is part of Peak, The Athletic’s desk covering the mental side of sports. Sign up for Peak’s newsletter here.The advice came when Harry Kane was young, not long after he was released from Arsenal academy.Kane was 9 years old and a little bit “podgy,” still growing into his body. He wasn’t particularly quick, and he did not run that well, and compared to his peers in the academy, he was a little underdeveloped. The youth coaches were unimpressed.For Kane, the disappointment of the rejection provides a tidy origin story, a source of his tenacity and resilience. Yet when he recalled the moment years later in a piece for The Players Tribune, it was his father’s reaction that stayed with him.“Well,” his dad told him, “let’s get on with it then.”His father wasn’t upset, and he wasn’t emotional, and he didn’t attempt to point fingers or dole out blame. He just told Kane that it was time to find another team.We’ll work harder.At 32, Kane is one of the leading stars of this World Cup, an elite striker at the height of his powers, a steadfast captain leading England on another run.His prolific goal scoring, consistent professionalism and composure under pressure have made him an emotional pillar for a country seeking its first World Cup trophy in 60 years. Yet it’s the contours of his journey — from overlooked academy player to late-blooming professional to one of the best strikers in the world — that provide a useful sports parable.This is Kane’s third World Cup — and fifth major tournament — as the captain of England. So as his team prepped for a quarterfinal matchup with Norway, we went through the archives to find our four favorite lessons from his career.1. It all starts with self-belief You’ve probably heard the Tom Brady story. It came more than a decade ago, when Kane was still bouncing around, from Millwall to Norwich City to a frustrating stop at Leicester City.One day in 2013, Kane was on YouTube when he stumbled upon an old ESPN documentary on Brady, the New England Patriots quarterback. The film was called “The Brady 6,” and it chronicled the improbable beginnings of Brady’s career, how six other quarterbacks were selected before him in the 2000 NFL Draft.Kane was a sports fan who was curious about American football and the paths of great athletes, but he didn’t know much about the particulars of Brady, then in the prime of his career. Kane listened to the scouting descriptions that plagued Brady — poor build, skinny, lacks a strong arm — and he saw the now-famous photo of a schlubby Brady at the NFL Scouting Combine. The story struck a chord.Kane had spent the previous years on loan, struggling to establish himself. His athleticism was still a question. He didn’t look like a proper striker. He was technically gifted and obsessed with the game. He’d always had a knack for scoring goals.