What makes something fail or succeed? As I write this, there are 126,936 books on Amazon.com that try to answer this question. If you were to peruse them, you’d find various answers on how to be more successful. “Work hard.” “Be persistent.” “Set your goals.” “Change your thinking, change your life.” “Influence and network with others.” “Find the right opportunity.” “Invest in your future.” “Eat less. Exercise more.” “It’s not what you know but who you know.” “Follow a system.” The list goes on. While all of these authors have valuable perspectives to offer, very few of them have tried to answer the deepest level of the question “why does something fail or succeed?”

What makes something fail or succeed is truly a universal question. If there were a universal answer, you could use it to focus your efforts on what makes the biggest difference in your success. It would shed considerable light on past events and offer a framework to follow going forward.

The surprising thing is that, beyond getting the “details” and “circumstances” right, there is ultimately only one determinant of failure or success. This is true for businesses as it is for individuals, families, schools, communities, governments, and even your favorite NFL team. It also applies to any definition of success you can think of: earn a billion dollars, attain enlightenment, be happy, get laid, be fit and healthy, have a happy marriage, live the four-hour work week, whatever. Regardless of what the definition is, it’s always true.

Take that in for a moment. One thing – and one thing only – ultimately determines the success of everything. That includes the success of everything that exists now, that has ever existed, or that will ever exist in the future. If you knew what this one thing was, you’d not only be able to improve your own chances of success, but you could also tell whether other things around you will fail or succeed. Is this company a good investment? Will this couple make a happy partnership? Will my team win the championship? You’d know the answers with much greater clarity.

What you’re about to learn is very powerful stuff. It seems simple at first – so simple that many people miss its significance. And while some classic laws of physics explain what this one thing is, you don’t need a degree in physics to understand them. In fact, the one thing that determines failure or success is so blindly obvious that once you understand it, you’ll notice its effects everywhere you look.

To learn this universal model of success – or what I call the “success formula” – bookmark this page. Then click on each link below in sequence. As you read each section, you’ll build your knowledge step by step. Ultimately, you’ll have a powerful new perspective and tools that you can apply immediately to achieve the success you desire.

The Success Guide

1. The Universal Success Formula
2. Where Are Your Energy Drains?
3. How to Scale Your Company (and have fun doing it)

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