TFOS

Podcast Verion
(With NotebookLM AI)

The Formula of Success: What Most High Performers Still Get Wrong

What if success - real, fulfilling, sustainable success - wasn’t a mystery?
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In life, most people chase success or happiness as an objective, a single goal to have or to be, or not …

In my work as a business executive, athlete, coach, and social life husband, father, son, …  I’ve sat across from elite athletes, startup founders, CEOs, and high-performing professionals. Despite their vastly different domains, the conversations often revolve around the same core question of success.

What if it was a mindset leading to a formula? I am introducing the Formula of Success (TFOS), which we will explore deeper in the following weeks, item per item.

The Formula

Success = ∑ (Time) ∑(Focus) (Preparation × Vision × Courage) + Luck - Goal

Where:

• Time (T): The Invisible Force. Time either compounds your gains or quietly erodes them. Rushed people often overact, underthink, and burn out. But those who treat time as an ally develop deeper mastery, build richer lives, and stay grounded in every phase of success. In the pursuit of success, Time is an ally.
• Focus Areas (F): The Width of Life. Success is multidimensional. It’s not just podium finishes, business wins, or external validation. It’s health, connection, purpose, energy, and long-term fulfillment across all areas that matter to you. TFOS helps you design that kind of success, without the burnout, ego traps, or regrets.
• Preparation (P): The Foundation. Preparation is your skillset, knowledge, routines, and recovery systems, your readiness to perform. Every step in life is preparation for the next. Continuous learning is the pilar of success. It’s the part that takes the most conscious effort. Without it, even when opportunities arise, you won’t even recognize them or be able to act on them when you do.
• Vision (V): The Opportunity Sensor. Vision isn’t a rigid five-year plan. In TFOS, vision means keeping an open mind, staying curious, and actively scanning for opportunity. It’s about noticing patterns, listening to others, adapting, and zooming out. Vision keeps you from missing the doors, life quietly opens while you're focused on one locked gate.
• Courage (C): The Engine That Moves It All, Courage includes action. But it’s not mindless hustle. It’s intentional boldness,  the kind that steps forward even when the path is uncertain and fear is present. Preparation and vision set the stage, but courage is what gets you out there. It’s the ultimate differentiator between dreamers, planners and performers.
• Luck (L): The Amplifier. Yes, luck matters. But it’s not a coin toss. You can’t control it, but you can increase its chances, by moving, by saying yes, by putting yourself in the right rooms, at the right times. TFOS positions luck as a serial multiplier. It rewards the bold and prepared. But it isn’t everything. On average you will be 50% lucky across different Times and Focus Areas.
• Goals (G): The Compass. Goals provide structure. They direct energy. But goals need context, especially in high performers who often set them aggressively. Set clear, motivating goals, but understand the difference between a standard to grow toward and a definition of self-worth. That distinction matters more than most realize.

 
Mind You: The Real Risks Behind Missing Factors

Understanding TFOS isn’t just about knowing the elements, it’s about recognizing the dangers of imbalance. Here are the key patterns I’ve seen derail the driven:

• P × V × C Is a Multiplication – Not a Suggestion. In the TFOS formula, Preparation × Vision × Courage is a multiplication. That means if any one of these is zero, the result is zero.
  • Vision x Courage without Preparation. You act fast. You see opportunity. But you're not ready. This leads to burnout, broken trust, and avoidable mistakes. It's the most dangerous combo.
  • Preparation x Courage without Vision. You’re skilled and willing. But your mind is closed. You miss the bigger picture. And you’ll likely blame others’ “luck” for why they succeed while you stay stuck without opportunities.
  • Preparation x Vision without Courage. You know the play. You see the moment. But you freeze. Dreams remain dreams. Plans stay perfect—but unused.
• Don’t only Focus on the Outcome, but the Process. You chase the finish line without respecting the journey. This obsession leads to rushed actions, skipped preparation, and declining courage. Treating time as an ally, not a threat, creates a more sustainable path to real success. Enjoy the journey as much as the destination.
• Narrow Success in One Life Area. If you define success only by your career—or your sport—you’re placing all your chips on one bet. You risk losing your family life, health, or personal growth. That’s an all-or-nothing game. And even if you win, the cost may be too high. Just consider how important health was to Steve Jobs despite his career success.
• Misunderstanding Luck. Luck matters, but not always. It's phase-based, not binary. Sometimes, you're in a lucky cycle, ride it. Other times, you're not, wait it out, don't panic. Success is a long game. Sunshine always follows the storm.
• Overreliance on Ambitious Goals. Big goals are great motivators, but if set too high, they can become demotivating and crippling. Differentiate between goals and aspirations. Aim for the best-case scenario, but let your definition of success be grounded, not fragile.

 
Final Thought

The Formula of Success isn’t theoretical; it’s based on life. It doesn’t guarantee a walk in the park, but it gives you a framework to make clear decisions, steady progress, and meaningful reflections, no matter what your field or ambition. It’s the system behind sustainable peak performance, but you still have to do it.

Don’t forget! It is the small daily steps that turn into positive habits, patterns, and beliefs ingrained in body and mind. Enjoy the journey!

BONUS TIPS COACH GLENN:

• Reflect on how you're defining success across all areas of life or not, and see if you are not missing some key Focus Areas that you are very successful in already.
• Rate yourself (1–10) on each factor: Preparation, Vision, Courage, Luck, Goals, and Time. Identify where you're strong and where you're stuck
• Start realigning, not in months, but today, with one small act of courage or curiosity

Share this blog/newsletter with your friends, family, and colleagues who are also pursuing a sportier and healthier lifestyle!