The Secret Success Formula

As the author of “The Secret Success Formula,” my personal narrative illustrates the transformative power of persistence, vision, and self-belief.

Raised in a modest community of approximately 300 individuals, my early life was shaped by the simplicity of rural existence and the challenges inherent in a single income, lower-class family. Despite my slender physique and frequent teasing, I found solace and purpose in sports, music, and technology. These pursuits served as the foundation of my resilience and catalyzed a deeper exploration of my identity.

As I matured, I sought greater fulfillment. With only two companions and a $1000 credit card, I relocated to a larger town, accepting a position on an assembly line to secure financial stability. While the role was unglamorous and did not align with my aspirations, it was an integral part of my journey. However, my skills soon emerged, propelling me into a career in telecommunications.

There, I encountered numerous obstacles, including the absence of a university degree. Nevertheless, I persevered, contributing to significant projects, including the creation of the first national internet provider in Canada and resolving a high-profile, technical issue that jeopardized the 1998 Brazilian presidential election.

At the pinnacle of my career, living on a full corporate expense in California, the company I worked for abruptly terminated the employment of 18,000 employees in a single day, requiring me to relocate back to Canada. Fortunately, due to a robust network of friends, I secured employment five days later.

During my tenure with this new organization, I had the privilege of collaborating with CERN on groundbreaking research related to transatlantic high-speed communication. Through its success, I was also awarded a contract to reconstruct a 35-building university campus network infrastructure from the ground up, which still stands today, supporting $150M in research and education, as well as student and faculty services.

Success is not a destination but an ongoing process, however, and I faced another acquisition-based layoff. In a calculated decision, I took a pay cut of nearly 30% and the loss of my wife’s entire salary, cashed out my savings, and pursued the American dream, relocating my very young family to Boston.

In a tangible manifestation of the power of the ideas in this book and the grace of God, I witnessed a remarkable fivefold increase in my annual salary over a ten-year period.

While the path has not been without challenges, I stand as proof that regardless of one’s starting point or the number of setbacks encountered, success is attainable through adherence to the right principles.