Definition of the week: The early bird catches the worm

Phrases.org
The early bird catches the worm:

Meaning
Success comes to those who prepare well and put in effort.

Origin
This is first recorded in John Ray's A collection of English proverbs 1670, 1678:

"The early bird catcheth the worm."

Clearly, the title of the work indicates that this was considered proverbial even in the 17th century.