Official Book Synopsis
It’s time to redefine success.
In a world where fame, followers, and front-stage recognition are seen as the ultimate markers of success, The Secret Society of Success offers a countercultural perspective. Drawing on powerful stories from behind the scenes of organizations like Apple and StoryBrand, Tim Schurrer reveals how true fulfillment comes not from being the center of attention, but from serving others, living with integrity and finding meaning in the roles that often go unnoticed. Whether you’re a leader, creative, entrepreneur, or professional, this book invites you to join a different kind of success movement, one that values purpose over popularity and impact over applause.
What It’s About
Tim Schurrer, who worked alongside leaders like Donald Miller at StoryBrand, explores the idea that true success isn’t about the spotlight, the followers, or the impressive titles. Instead, it’s about living with purpose, staying true to your mission, and valuing relationships over rankings.
He shares stories of a friend stuck in comparison even while outwardly successful which remind us how easy it is to get trapped by “scoreboards.” Whether it’s job titles, salaries, or follower counts, these scorecards are everywhere. But as the long-running Harvard study on happiness shows, those things don’t bring fulfillment; healthy, close relationships do.
If I had to sum it up, the Secret Society of Success feels like the book I’ve been waiting for. It landed right in the middle of my own reflections about what success means, especially in a world where the loudest voices and biggest platforms often get the spotlight. Tim Schurrer dives deep into the pressure we feel to be seen, to chase more, to be bigger and how those constant comparisons and the need for recognition can slowly chip away at our peace.
Right On Time
In 2023, I hit a wall. I was frustrated because I felt like Carry On Friends wasn’t “big enough” or “successful enough.” I was chasing what I thought I wanted or where I should be, instead of being grateful for what it is and what I already have. Looking back, the 2013 and 2015 Kerry-Ann did not dream of and would be very happy to have what 2023 Kerry-Ann had built. But somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing it. Tim talked about gratitude over gain and how he, too, was striving for more until he stopped to appreciate what he already had. That tension, the gap between gratitude and striving is exactly what this book speaks to.
So much of this book mirrors the work I’ve been doing internally. I’ve chosen a countercultural path as a creator. This book reminded me that it’s okay. Impact isn’t always measured in millions. Sometimes it’s in the one person who tells you your work mattered.
One chapter that really hit home was Chapter 11. It made me stop and think about how often we’re chasing “more” when green pastures are already all around us.
Listening Experience
Highly, highly recommend listening to the audiobook. Tim narrates it himself, and you can hear his passion, his tone, his timing, the way he laughs at how ridiculous he was being about certain things, in every chapter. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: when an author reads their own work, it just hits different. This was one of those audiobooks that made my subway rides feel rich and reflective.
Caribbean American Perspective
One of the most challenging and powerful ideas in The Secret Society of Success is the suggestion that we don’t have to constantly push, perform, or prove ourselves to be successful.
That message might be hard to embrace, especially for Caribbean Americans. Many of us were raised to believe that visibility, recognition, and achievement weren’t just nice-to-haves, they were proof that our hard work, our parents’/grandparents’ sacrifices, and our cultural pride were not in vain. For us, success is often communal. It’s about legacy, cultural representation, and honoring where we came from. Choosing a “quieter” definition of success can feel like we’re playing small.
But that’s also why this book matters.
The Secret Society of Success invites us to be content, not complacent. To redefine success not in spite of our heritage, but in a way that honors it without burning ourselves out trying to prove we belong. It also shifts the spotlight from self-promotion to serving others and that’s a value that’s deeply rooted in Caribbean culture, even if we don’t always frame it that way.
Instead of success being about how many people know your name, it becomes about how well you’re showing up for your people. That might look like mentoring others in your industry, pouring into your community, or creating work that uplifts and empowers even if it never goes viral.
The book creates space to question the cultural conditioning we’ve internalized and reimagine success on our own terms, without guilt and with deeper purpose.
Final Thoughts
The Secret Society of Success reminded me:
- It’s okay to not want the spotlight. And the moments when I do want recognition? That’s normal and a tension that should be managed.
- It’s okay to measure success by depth, not width.
- It’s okay to be counterculture to be quiet, intentional, and still have impact.
This book helped me recalibrate. And if you’re in a season of reflection, frustration, or quiet rebellion against the hustle, I think it might help you, too.
MOST IMPORTANTLY – it’s not a “one-and-done” kind of book. IT IS NOT A FIX. You’ll still wrestle with comparison and scorecards after reading it but it gives you language and perspective to navigate those moments differently.
About the Author
Tim Schurrer is a leadership expert, speaker, and former COO of StoryBrand, where he worked alongside Donald Miller to help organizations clarify their messaging. With a background in music and business, he’s spent over a decade behind the scenes supporting top performers and now champions a quieter, purpose-driven approach to success. The Secret Society of Success is his debut book, encouraging readers to rethink what it truly means to win.
