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The Secret Society of Success: Stop Chasing the Spotlight and Learn to Enjoy Your Work (and Life) Again
It’s time to redefine success. “The book you’re about to read is an absolute game changer, life changer, and outlook changer. . . . You will never view success the same way again. And that’s a very good thing.” — ERNIE JOHNSON JR. , Emmy Award winner and host of TNT’s Inside the NBA There’s a message getting a lot of airtime these days. It says to be successful, you have to step into the spotlight, climb the ladder, become the boss, or chase whatever version of success that’s been dangled in front of you. But what if there’s another way? What if fame, money, and power aren’t all that we should be chasing? In The Secret Society of Success , Tim Schurrer invites you to reevaluate your definition of success and learn a new, freer way to go about achieving it. How do you learn this approach? With the Secret Society as your guide—a community of people who know how to make an impact, whether they have the spotlight or not. The Secret Society will teach you to Through powerful stories of people like the CEO of Apple Tim Cook, NBA all-star LeBron James, Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood , and people whose names you’ve never heard of, you will discover that the success you’re looking for is within your reach, wherever you are and whatever your role. “ The Secret Society of Success is an important book that everyone should read. It is not only insightful; it’s inspirational. This book captures what it really means to be successful. I am for one ready to up my game! Thank you, Tim, for giving me this gift!” — DAVID NOVAK, cofounder and former chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands (KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut)
240 pages, Hardcover
Published May 17, 2022
23 people are currently reading
2366 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 26, 2022
What does success means to you?
We all have defined success as attention, fame, recognition, money, etc. But does all of this really make you a successful person or a happy person?
You don't have to be a millionaire to live a meaningful life. In this book, Tim Schurrer reevaluated the definition of success and what it truly means to be successful. 🙂
He shares examples of people who made an impact in the world. Whom he calls "The Secret Society Members". People who don't care about the recognition who just only care about how they can serve other people and solve a problem as a community. ✊️
The book tells you about two types of people. Spotlight mindset and Members of the secret society.
Spotlight mindest tells us we won't be happy until we get big breaks. Until we get to that position. Until we have more followers.
The secret society members never chase recognition, credits, or money. They believe in helping people with what they want. They build an environment where people can grow. 📈
Tim provides us with tools to fight against our spotlight mindset. Whatever he learns, the lessons and tools from members of the secret society, he teaches us to use those in our life. 🙂
This book will show you how to find true success, leave your mark on the world, and live a life of meaning all without ever chasing recognition, money, fame, or power. 😀
I think it's a must-read for everyone.
We all have defined success as attention, fame, recognition, money, etc. But does all of this really make you a successful person or a happy person?
You don't have to be a millionaire to live a meaningful life. In this book, Tim Schurrer reevaluated the definition of success and what it truly means to be successful. 🙂
He shares examples of people who made an impact in the world. Whom he calls "The Secret Society Members". People who don't care about the recognition who just only care about how they can serve other people and solve a problem as a community. ✊️
The book tells you about two types of people. Spotlight mindset and Members of the secret society.
Spotlight mindest tells us we won't be happy until we get big breaks. Until we get to that position. Until we have more followers.
The secret society members never chase recognition, credits, or money. They believe in helping people with what they want. They build an environment where people can grow. 📈
Tim provides us with tools to fight against our spotlight mindset. Whatever he learns, the lessons and tools from members of the secret society, he teaches us to use those in our life. 🙂
This book will show you how to find true success, leave your mark on the world, and live a life of meaning all without ever chasing recognition, money, fame, or power. 😀
I think it's a must-read for everyone.
March 28, 2024
“Redefining success” and “spotlight mindset” are simple enough concepts, but Tim and his book came along at a helpful time for me.
I’m intrigued and impressed with how he integrated his podcast interviews within the audio book. Neat touch.
I’m intrigued and impressed with how he integrated his podcast interviews within the audio book. Neat touch.
June 23, 2024
So great! Everyone should definitely read it.
March 16, 2023
Tim's book turns the traditional definition of success on its head. This is refreshing news for those who desire success (don't we all), but who've never quite resonated with society's definition of the term.
June 15, 2022
Redefine your definition of success and learn a new way to achieve it.
Most believe that success is that you have to be in the spotlight, be a-top the ladder, become the boss, or chase whatever version of success that has been placed in front of you.
Author, Tim Schurrer shares how most people have what’s called, The Spotlight Mindset, who only chase the money, fame, and glory.
The picture of success the world gives us is selfish.
In The Secret Society of Success, you will be guided on creating your own definition of success and to live into that fully.
In order to be part of the Secret Society of Success, you have to find a deep sense of fulfillment in your work that doesn’t depend on recognition or validation, you are servant-minded, and you are more interested in what you can do for others than what they can do for you.
You will read powerful stories and examples of those who are in the either spotlight and others you have never heard of. You will discover that the success you are looking for is within your reach, wherever you are and whatever your role.
This book will teach you how to achieve true success, how to make a meaningful impact on the world, and how to live a meaningful life without ever chasing money, power, or recognition as your main objective.
I, personally, really enjoyed this book. It was really eye-opening for me about how success should really be defined in our minds.
This book is for any individual who wants to take the next step to success in their careers and personal lives will find this book useful.
Most believe that success is that you have to be in the spotlight, be a-top the ladder, become the boss, or chase whatever version of success that has been placed in front of you.
Author, Tim Schurrer shares how most people have what’s called, The Spotlight Mindset, who only chase the money, fame, and glory.
The picture of success the world gives us is selfish.
In The Secret Society of Success, you will be guided on creating your own definition of success and to live into that fully.
In order to be part of the Secret Society of Success, you have to find a deep sense of fulfillment in your work that doesn’t depend on recognition or validation, you are servant-minded, and you are more interested in what you can do for others than what they can do for you.
You will read powerful stories and examples of those who are in the either spotlight and others you have never heard of. You will discover that the success you are looking for is within your reach, wherever you are and whatever your role.
This book will teach you how to achieve true success, how to make a meaningful impact on the world, and how to live a meaningful life without ever chasing money, power, or recognition as your main objective.
I, personally, really enjoyed this book. It was really eye-opening for me about how success should really be defined in our minds.
This book is for any individual who wants to take the next step to success in their careers and personal lives will find this book useful.
July 3, 2022
Sometimes, the right book comes along at exactly the right time.
Case in point...Tim Schurrer's "The Secret Society of Success: Stop Chasing the Spotlight and Learn to Enjoy Your Work (and Life) Again."
Most of the time, I live my life in the secret society of success as it unfolds inside the pages of Schurrer's informative, engaging, and spirited new book.
However, lately I've been fidgety. I've been unhappy at work for no particular reason. While I'm far from wealthy, my pay is fair. My performance evaluations are consistently positive. I enjoy and respect my team.
But something has disrupted my happiness and I've stopped feeling successful. I want more. I want more status. I want more opportunity. I want to be on the leadership team. I've never really been money motivated, but I'm aware that I've been outspoken about wanting, and believing I've earned, all the things that also lead to more money.
While this is far from the first period in my life where I've felt this way, it's not usually disruptive to my daily life. It might bubble underneath the surface, but I can control what Schurrer calls the "tension" between wanting more and being content.
Lately? It's simply not happening.
So, I needed so many of the reminders contained within the pages of "The Secret Society of Success." I needed, perhaps, the affirmation that it's okay to be content with where I'm at professionally as, I must confess, it also allows me to live the other side of my life that I love so much - activism and writing.
In some ways, the roots of "The Secret Society of Success" aren't necessarily new. However, they've seldom been presented as engagingly and encouragingly as they are by Tim Schurrer. By the end of the book, which I read quickly and relentlessly, I felt affirmed for the way I'm living my life and I suddenly relaxed into the Richard that I usually am.
Schurrer writes for everyone from CEOs to mid-level managers to entry-level employees. He writes for those with huge corporations or significant fame and for those with small non-profits or simply households to run. While Schurrer does utilize the testimonies of some folks who always seem to show in books like this, like Blake Mycoskie, Bob Goff, and Fred Rogers, he also incorporates less expected stories like a teenager with spina bifida (my own birth defect), astronaut Michael Collins, and Becca Stevens of Thistle Farms. The end result is a film that lives into its stated values far more consistently than a good number of books that I've read in this area.
Schurrer tackles a few key concepts within "The Secret Society of Success" including "the spotlight mindset," "success is in the assist," "playing by the wrong scorecard," embracing challenges and learning from failure, and others. Each time a chapter would come along, I'd swear that I was most moved by it until the next one would come along. If there is one idea, and there are actually several, that really sticks with me it's one I've long put in practice but seldom identified - "Who am I here for?"
This is a question that guides my activism. I'm not a huge activist, though I suppose I've done some huge things. As a paraplegic/double amputee/wheelchair user, I've spent most of my adult life offering short and long distance events in my wheelchair typically in the name of violence prevention organizations. However, I've never raised a ton of cash. I occasionally get attention, mostly courtesy of the uniqueness of being in a wheelchair, but for the most part nobody knows me because so many of my events originate out of the idea of supporting one person or one organization or in response to one tragedy. My entire goal for each event is to be able to identify "Who am I here for?" I often tell people that I'll happily do a Tenderness Tour event if I believe it will benefit one person. I've never taken a penny of the money raised. I have enough and I love donating 100% of what I raise.
I loved Schurrer's exploration of the impact of a young man with spina bifida. As someone who has massively outlived my life expectancy, it was a powerful reminder to me that this alone leaves a positive impact and counts as success.
My favorite chapter, and I really do have one, is Chapter 12 where Schurrer talks about his wife and her parenting. Her story, essentially around the idea that it's "an honor to serve" as a parent, brought tears to my eyes and is so perfectly translatable to nearly every setting personally and professionally.
I loved every moment of "The Secret Society of Success" and read it voraciously and immersed myself in it wholly. Schurrer excels at making this information accessible and appealing. He serves up pages with thoughtful quotes and ideas and yet writes in such a way that he never seems to be using this book with a spotlight mindset.
I'll confess that I was watching for it.
Once in a while, a book comes along that you simply know will be with you for years to come. For me, "The Secret Society of Success" is such a book. Inspiring and applicable, "The Secret Society of Success" teaches us how to define success for ourselves, contribute to the team without worrying about credit, embrace making an impact regardless of platform size, navigate that difficult tension between contentment and striving, transition from feeling anxious and overwhelmed in the job to becoming confident about our value to the team, and discover meaning in the work we do whether that work is personal, professional, volunteer, or otherwise.
Want to discover a successful you that is meaningful and long-lasting? You owe it to yourself to check out "The Secret Society of Success."
Case in point...Tim Schurrer's "The Secret Society of Success: Stop Chasing the Spotlight and Learn to Enjoy Your Work (and Life) Again."
Most of the time, I live my life in the secret society of success as it unfolds inside the pages of Schurrer's informative, engaging, and spirited new book.
However, lately I've been fidgety. I've been unhappy at work for no particular reason. While I'm far from wealthy, my pay is fair. My performance evaluations are consistently positive. I enjoy and respect my team.
But something has disrupted my happiness and I've stopped feeling successful. I want more. I want more status. I want more opportunity. I want to be on the leadership team. I've never really been money motivated, but I'm aware that I've been outspoken about wanting, and believing I've earned, all the things that also lead to more money.
While this is far from the first period in my life where I've felt this way, it's not usually disruptive to my daily life. It might bubble underneath the surface, but I can control what Schurrer calls the "tension" between wanting more and being content.
Lately? It's simply not happening.
So, I needed so many of the reminders contained within the pages of "The Secret Society of Success." I needed, perhaps, the affirmation that it's okay to be content with where I'm at professionally as, I must confess, it also allows me to live the other side of my life that I love so much - activism and writing.
In some ways, the roots of "The Secret Society of Success" aren't necessarily new. However, they've seldom been presented as engagingly and encouragingly as they are by Tim Schurrer. By the end of the book, which I read quickly and relentlessly, I felt affirmed for the way I'm living my life and I suddenly relaxed into the Richard that I usually am.
Schurrer writes for everyone from CEOs to mid-level managers to entry-level employees. He writes for those with huge corporations or significant fame and for those with small non-profits or simply households to run. While Schurrer does utilize the testimonies of some folks who always seem to show in books like this, like Blake Mycoskie, Bob Goff, and Fred Rogers, he also incorporates less expected stories like a teenager with spina bifida (my own birth defect), astronaut Michael Collins, and Becca Stevens of Thistle Farms. The end result is a film that lives into its stated values far more consistently than a good number of books that I've read in this area.
Schurrer tackles a few key concepts within "The Secret Society of Success" including "the spotlight mindset," "success is in the assist," "playing by the wrong scorecard," embracing challenges and learning from failure, and others. Each time a chapter would come along, I'd swear that I was most moved by it until the next one would come along. If there is one idea, and there are actually several, that really sticks with me it's one I've long put in practice but seldom identified - "Who am I here for?"
This is a question that guides my activism. I'm not a huge activist, though I suppose I've done some huge things. As a paraplegic/double amputee/wheelchair user, I've spent most of my adult life offering short and long distance events in my wheelchair typically in the name of violence prevention organizations. However, I've never raised a ton of cash. I occasionally get attention, mostly courtesy of the uniqueness of being in a wheelchair, but for the most part nobody knows me because so many of my events originate out of the idea of supporting one person or one organization or in response to one tragedy. My entire goal for each event is to be able to identify "Who am I here for?" I often tell people that I'll happily do a Tenderness Tour event if I believe it will benefit one person. I've never taken a penny of the money raised. I have enough and I love donating 100% of what I raise.
I loved Schurrer's exploration of the impact of a young man with spina bifida. As someone who has massively outlived my life expectancy, it was a powerful reminder to me that this alone leaves a positive impact and counts as success.
My favorite chapter, and I really do have one, is Chapter 12 where Schurrer talks about his wife and her parenting. Her story, essentially around the idea that it's "an honor to serve" as a parent, brought tears to my eyes and is so perfectly translatable to nearly every setting personally and professionally.
I loved every moment of "The Secret Society of Success" and read it voraciously and immersed myself in it wholly. Schurrer excels at making this information accessible and appealing. He serves up pages with thoughtful quotes and ideas and yet writes in such a way that he never seems to be using this book with a spotlight mindset.
I'll confess that I was watching for it.
Once in a while, a book comes along that you simply know will be with you for years to come. For me, "The Secret Society of Success" is such a book. Inspiring and applicable, "The Secret Society of Success" teaches us how to define success for ourselves, contribute to the team without worrying about credit, embrace making an impact regardless of platform size, navigate that difficult tension between contentment and striving, transition from feeling anxious and overwhelmed in the job to becoming confident about our value to the team, and discover meaning in the work we do whether that work is personal, professional, volunteer, or otherwise.
Want to discover a successful you that is meaningful and long-lasting? You owe it to yourself to check out "The Secret Society of Success."
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July 26, 2023Secret Society of Success is interesting in that this title is not reflective of the content. This book is about taking the backseat and team success not individual success. Most people do not work for personal glory but this does not mean they do not want to feel gratification. It is interesting this author talks about it does not matter who gets "glory" for the work. If this is the case why does he have his arm on the book and his photo in the back. I am sure this was a team effort so why not give "credit" of authorship to the group?
I understand the value of team work but in there are so many cases where a person will work very hard and the "credit" goes to someone who did very little. In these cases, where does the person who has done all the work fit? To be honest, current society does not have equitable distribution of work rewards.
Ultimately, success is defined according to personal goals. Sacrifices are always made and the person doing the sacrificing has to decide when enough is enough.
I understand the value of team work but in there are so many cases where a person will work very hard and the "credit" goes to someone who did very little. In these cases, where does the person who has done all the work fit? To be honest, current society does not have equitable distribution of work rewards.
Ultimately, success is defined according to personal goals. Sacrifices are always made and the person doing the sacrificing has to decide when enough is enough.
July 10, 2025
A wonderful book. A fresh breath to a more fulfilled life in a life of service of others.
Thank you Tim for a great book. It has reminded me of how important a life of service is, and that’s it’s there we can find true fulfilment in life.
Thank you that you started the book with telling your own story, about how you yourself struggled with the “spotlight mindset”, and how you were able to come out of that. That made you in my mind more of an authority in this firld and a person worth listening to and learn from. I loved all the stories you shared of other people as well of their struggles about this, and their way of handling it. That draw me into the teaching you do and made it a lot easier for me to relate to my own story and possible solution for myself in my own story.
This was a good read and time well spent.
David Dahlén D’Cruz | Life & Leadership Connected
Thank you Tim for a great book. It has reminded me of how important a life of service is, and that’s it’s there we can find true fulfilment in life.
Thank you that you started the book with telling your own story, about how you yourself struggled with the “spotlight mindset”, and how you were able to come out of that. That made you in my mind more of an authority in this firld and a person worth listening to and learn from. I loved all the stories you shared of other people as well of their struggles about this, and their way of handling it. That draw me into the teaching you do and made it a lot easier for me to relate to my own story and possible solution for myself in my own story.
This was a good read and time well spent.
David Dahlén D’Cruz | Life & Leadership Connected
May 7, 2023
I've been taking a break on reading any personal or professional development books but this book spoke to me. Today I finished the secret society of success and would reccomend the book to anyone.
Tim Schurrer proposes that as a society we re define success. Instead of seeing the people at the top being successful seeing everyone who contributed to the over all success as successful. Most people who know me know I am not a spot light person.
In my opinion this is the type of professional development book that should be reccomended over and over because not everyone is made fir the spotlight role.
Tim Schurrer proposes that as a society we re define success. Instead of seeing the people at the top being successful seeing everyone who contributed to the over all success as successful. Most people who know me know I am not a spot light person.
In my opinion this is the type of professional development book that should be reccomended over and over because not everyone is made fir the spotlight role.
June 29, 2025
Generally, this was an up-beat, positive leadership book about what true success is. I enjoyed the chapter about Mr. Rodger’s and the one about Thistle Farm, but it left me feeling like it lacked something. Maybe because I work in a very unappreciated field (education), it’s hard to take advice like this from a high level executive.
June 4, 2022
What a riot! This book is such an easy read and clearly outlines success tips that you can’t unsee! Grateful for the way he offers and humbler way of living that’s still aspirational in its simplicity and service.
July 11, 2022
LOVED IT! Tim is the real deal. The perfect blend of practical info + powerful stories.
November 1, 2022
A really good read
February 13, 2023
This is a great book to get you thinking about how to manage the tension between promoting yourself and "not caring who gets the credit"
March 20, 2023
Nothing groundbreaking but a gentle reminder that a life of service is much more fulfilling than a life spent mindlessly climbing ladders.
October 21, 2023
Great timing! I was starting to get off track but this really helped me internally :)
Want to read
August 19, 2025Includes q story about Alan Mulally
August 13, 2022
Have you ever started reading a book and said "oh damn, this describes me exactly and I feel seen." ?
Well this is that book for me. It best describes my exact feelings on success and why no matter how much I accomplish it is never enough. It is not a failing of who we are but of what the society seems to place on us, but we are not doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. There is a way to find success and happiness that isnt the conventional wisdom of it. The book does a great job of describing the issue, the alternative way and stories about those that are living this new way. Highly Recommended.
Well this is that book for me. It best describes my exact feelings on success and why no matter how much I accomplish it is never enough. It is not a failing of who we are but of what the society seems to place on us, but we are not doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes over and over. There is a way to find success and happiness that isnt the conventional wisdom of it. The book does a great job of describing the issue, the alternative way and stories about those that are living this new way. Highly Recommended.
July 9, 2022
The Secret Society of Success is a great book about the mindset and heart we bring to our work! It can apply to so many areas of life, not just the work we do to make a living. The chapters are short, easy to read, and full of practical advice. I loved all the real life stories and examples of people who don't define success the way the world does. Anyone would benefit from reading this book, from hourly workers to CEOs to entrepreneurs, no matter what industry or stage of life you’re in. It would make a great gift for high school or college graduates!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
December 17, 2022
amazing book for every managers and leaders who wants to achieve while assisting!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews