On the eve of 2025, I was thinking deeply about the success formula in life. Looking back at 2024, I felt more disappointed than excited to enter the new year.
One question gripped my mind: What is the point of planning for the next year when the majority of us fall short of achieving our desired goals?
This thought led me to wonder why we fail to execute the plans we make with such excitement, and how to truly unlock the success formula we all talk about.
I consulted my business Guru and asked him about the success formula in life and the reasons why we fail to achieve our life goals.
My mentor told me that many of us set big goals but don’t know what it actually takes to achieve them.
Especially when we don’t see results, we get disappointed and stop doing the required activity. This is where we lose grip on the success formula — we confuse delayed results with failure.
Once we enter this state of demotivation, we procrastinate and drift from the path we initially committed to.
I asked my coach, “What should we do when we don’t see the results of our efforts?” He explained that all we need is to correct our approach toward achieving goals — a crucial part of the success formula.
The first thing we must admit is that there are external factors — people, circumstances, accidents — we can’t control.
But the real success formula lies in focusing on what we can control: our activity, mindset, discipline, and consistency.
Take, for example, going to the gym to lose weight. You won’t see instant results. You must endure the painful process of transformation. The success formula here involves showing up every day — even when the scale doesn’t move.
Before you achieve your dream body, you must stay consistent. Most people stop within the first week due to muscle fatigue and pain. They abandon the success formula too early.
This pattern applies to most of our New Year’s resolutions — they fail because we don’t follow through.
According to my mentor, to truly follow the success formula, we have to go through five essential stages. These stages are the true roadmap to success.
Stage One of the Success Formula: Uninformed Optimism
When we start something new, we’re excited about achieving the desired outcome. This phase is filled with energy and positive expectations, but it’s just the beginning of the success formula.
We often don’t understand what sacrifices are needed. We lack the mindset and skill set needed to succeed.
This phase is known as Uninformed Optimism. We’re unaware of the challenges that lie ahead.
For example, when joining a gym, your excitement is high. But soon, you’ll face fatigue and discomfort. Same goes for starting a business — you’re hopeful, but unprepared. The success formula here teaches us to focus on the activity, not the results.
Stage Two: Informed Pessimism
This is when reality hits. We begin to see how hard it is. The initial excitement fades, replaced by self-doubt.
This is where the success formula asks us to persevere. Jack Ma once said:
“Today is difficult, tomorrow is much more difficult, but the day after tomorrow is beautiful. Most people die tomorrow evening.”
This stage tests your willpower. According to my mentor, it’s a make-or-break point in the success formula. Stay focused and committed, even when you’re unsure.
Stage Three: Valley of Despair
This is the most painful stage — the Valley of Despair. Few people make it past this point.
Here, the success formula demands emotional strength. You might see small wins, but uncertainty and discouragement creep in. You may revisit this stage multiple times in your journey.
All great achievers — leaders, entrepreneurs, creators — have crossed this valley. It’s a vital part of the success formula because it teaches resilience.
As my mentor says: If you can’t handle the stress, you can’t handle the success.
Stage Four: Informed Optimism
After surviving the valley, you begin to feel stable. You see results trickle in, and things start making sense.
You start believing again. This is where the success formula finally starts to feel real.
But this stage comes with its own risks — complacency, procrastination, or ego. The key is to stay humble, consistent, and avoid overconfidence.
Even with success in sight, the success formula requires vigilance.
Fifth Stage: Achievements
This is the final and most rewarding stage. You start seeing exponential results — the compound effect of all your efforts.
At this stage, the success formula reminds us not to let ego ruin the journey.
Stay grounded, appreciate your team, your mentors, and even the critics. The people around us — family, friends, colleagues, and even skeptics — shape us more than we realize.
The final step in the success formula is about giving back. Help others who are still in their early stages. Be the support you once needed.
In short, the success formula is not just about strategy or hustle. It’s about thinking big, committing fully, staying consistent, and developing grit. Above all, it’s about maintaining the attitude of gratitude.
I’ll end this with one of my favorite quotes from Ratan Tata:
“Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat.”
Want to know what the 4 things are that wise people avoid to achieve more? Then here is the link.
