6 Signs That You Are Closer To "Unreasonable" Success Than You Thought

Success is rigged—in favor of those who don’t overthink every f@#ing step.

I was reminded of this last week while talking to Kris, a new client from the US. He’s a serial founder and coach who’s led four different companies past the billion-dollar mark (yes, with a “B”).

He’s brilliant, brash and still finds himself playing business whack-a-mole at times. We were mapping out a fresh 5-day email course rooted in his decades of scaling organizations. As he laid out the highs (massive valuations) and lows (constant fires), one thing slapped me in the face:

“You’re probably closer to your next massive win than you think, because the signs are right under your nose.”

They’re subtle—tiny wins, new insights, or surprising connections that don’t scream “SUCCESS!” Yet these mini-signals often prove you’re on track, even if it doesn’t feel that way.

Before we dive into the six signs you should watch for, please check out this week’s sponsor of my newsletter

(this helps me to keep this content free for you and its just a click, Thank you 🤝)

All of your work. All in one place. Automatically.

How much time do you spend manually updating your portfolio? And how often is it still outdated?

Say goodbye to the hassle of constantly updating your portfolio. Authory creates a beautiful, self-updating portfolio that automatically pulls in your new articles as you publish them, no matter where.

And that’s not all: Authory also backs up all your published articles automatically, so you never have to worry about losing your work.

Join thousands of writers who already use Authory to impress potential clients and employers.

Get your free portfolio today

1. Your Resilience Keeps Leveling Up

It’s easy to feel defeated when you’re in the thick of things.

Each setback—like a botched sales pitch or a stalled product launch—can feel like a punch in the stomach. We often miss the fact that these “punches” are quietly toughening us up. Why? Because it hurts. Resilience growth never comes gift-wrapped with a “Congratulations!” sign.

Instead, it shows up as bruises, late nights, and more than a few meltdown moments.

During one of our calls, Kris mentioned a period when his fundraising efforts kept hitting brick walls, top investors bailed, deals collapsed, and he thought, Maybe I’m just not cut out for this. But every time he licked his wounds and went back to the drawing board, he got a little sharper.

A little more determined. Hiring that next “unreasonable” position? He realized it felt less daunting now. The repeated hits were quietly bulking up his resilience muscle.

I used to panic at the smallest hiccup. I’d spiral, thinking, This is it; I’m doomed. But eventually, I saw a pattern: I survived every storm, and each blow made me braver. The moment I recognized, Wait, I can handle this, was the moment I knew I’d leveled up.

Action Insight:

Embrace each hit you take.

It’s like weightlifting for your ambition—painful in the moment, but each “rep” builds the fortitude you’ll need for bigger victories. The more punches you survive, the less they scare you and the readier you are to tackle the next challenge head-on.

2. Small Wins Are Piling Up

We're conditioned to look for big, shiny milestones like closing a massive deal or scaling to seven or eight figures, so the smaller steps tend to feel insignificant.

We dismiss micro-wins because they’re not headline-worthy. When these victories happen in isolation, it’s easy to shrug them off. Small is just not as fancy as big.

Each step is small, yet collectively, they contribute to a massive wave of advancement.

A Scene

Kris tends to focus on the high-stakes moments—fundraising rounds or partnership deals.

In passing, though, he mentioned hiring a talented assistant who reorganized his entire workflow. That might sound “small” compared to a billion-dollar valuation, but it immediately freed hours each week and boosted his bandwidth. The same principle hit me recently when I realized I’d kept my email open rates above 50% for months.

I almost brushed it aside until I looked back at my data and thought, Wait, that’s a real sign of traction.

Why This Happens:

We crave fireworks.

If the win doesn’t come with confetti, we write it off. Plus, small wins don’t instantly solve everything—but they compound. One day you skip sugar, the next day you tackle that 6 a.m. workout, and suddenly your body fat is down to 16%.

One day you learn a new skill, the next day you land a new subscriber, and suddenly your entire brand looks different.

Action Insight:

Document and celebrate every micro-win. Write it down in your journal.

It’s not fluff—these tiny triumphs are the building blocks of an eventual “avalanche” success. Keep a quick reflection board (like I do in Notion) to track how often you’re hitting those consistent open rates, finishing your to-do list, or showing discipline with your health.

Over time, those small contributions add up to the breakthrough you’ve been chasing.

3. Your Goals Match Your Values

We often chase what looks impressive—bigger titles, more credentials, or someone else’s version of “success.”

After I lost my own company, I jumped into different ventures that sounded good on paper, but they never felt right. I didn’t just lose a business; I lost my sense of direction. Instead of asking what I truly wanted, I kept dabbling in paths that weren’t built for my core identity as an entrepreneur.

Why This Happens:

External validation can be seductive.

It’s easy to pursue money, fancy job titles, or external recognition, especially when you're at a vulnerable crossroads. Kris summed it up perfectly: “Nothing drags you down faster than chasing someone else’s definition of success.”

If we’re fixated on winning the approval of others, we ignore that nagging feeling telling us, This isn’t actually me.

Eventually, I realized I needed to do work that resonated with who I am: helping founders and like-minded people.

That was my sweet spot. When I embraced that passion, I felt more energized and clear than ever. It wasn’t about building something “impressive” for the outside world; it was about living out my calling to serve other entrepreneurs. If your goals get you excited rather than just “busy,” that’s a huge sign you’re on the right track.

Action Insight:

Let go of the trophies that aren’t really yours and focus on work that aligns with your identity. You’ll move faster, feel more fulfilled, and ultimately craft a success story that’s authentically yours.

4. You’re Attracting the Right People

We often underestimate how leveling up personally or professionally changes our circle.

If you’ve been stuck in old patterns—or surrounded by naysayers—shifting your mindset (or brand) might feel lonely at first. You might wonder if you’re truly connecting with anyone who “gets it.”

We don’t always see the moment when we begin to magnetize the right peers, mentors, or clients.

Why This Happens:

As your goals, values, and self-belief grow, the old crowd may no longer resonate with you.

But new opportunities and relationships often take time to show up. Kris, for instance, arrived in my life precisely when I’d decided to double down on serving high-level founders who aim for audacious growth.

Our alignment felt almost serendipitous, yet it was really the result of me clarifying what (and who) I wanted to attract.

My Own Shift:

In the past, I tried to do everything alone, believing I had to prove myself without help.

But once I committed to a bigger vision, I noticed more high-value people stepping into my orbit. Kris is proof of that: a bold founder who matches my drive for huge wins. Collaborations that used to feel out of reach suddenly became natural, all because my brand and approach now genuinely reflect who I’ve become.

Action Insight:

Pay attention to the quality of the relationships forming around you.

If you’re attracting driven, supportive folks (like Kris in my case), it’s not luck—it’s a sign you’ve leveled up. Keep clarifying your values and don’t be afraid to share your big vision.

The right people will recognize it and lean in, bringing fresh insights and opportunities you never saw coming.

5. You Can See and Feel Your Growth

We often assume that "growth" only appears in big, flashy metrics like revenue spikes or a swelling social following.

Real internal growth—handling stress better, making sharper decisions, or finding calm where there used to be chaos—often goes unnoticed because it’s not displayed on a leaderboard.

If you’re accustomed to treating every roadblock like an emergency, you might not realize how drastically your mindset has evolved.

Why This Happens:

As you learn new skills, reshape your habits, or build emotional resilience, the changes are gradual.

People expect a dramatic “aha” moment, but in reality, your growth reveals itself quietly—like Kris admitting, “I used to do everything myself; now my team runs circles around what I used to manage alone.”

A Personal Shift:

I vividly recall the heartbreak of watching my first company sink, which left me with a heightened panic response.

For a while, any tiny glitch at work made me think, here we go, everything’s doomed again. But these days, even though that reflex still tries to creep in, I’m more equipped to pause and think, wait, I’ve weathered worse. That shift in mindset—recognizing I can handle the next storm—isn’t something you see on a spreadsheet, but it’s a far more powerful indicator of real, lasting growth.

Action Insight:

Stop discounting those subtle changes in how you react and make decisions. Recognize this:

When you're less shaken by setbacks and consistently generating solutions instead of spiraling into worst-case scenarios, that's genuine growth.

It may not make the headlines, but it forms the solid foundation for the major success stories you are destined to create.

6. You’ve Got a Driving Sense of Purpose

As a founder, it's easy to lose sight of the mission when you're knee-deep in everyday fires like sales, product bugs, and next month's payroll.

You might start thinking, Is this really worth it? That wavering sense of purpose can lead to burnout or a “just get by” mindset, even if your business is technically doing fine.

Why This Happens (Kris’s Take):

During our call, Kris pointed out that Elon Musk keeps two pictures of Mars—the red, desolate planet as it is today and a version colonized by humans—right in his workspace.

Apple famously thinks 50 steps ahead when imagining new products. These are visual anchors that remind them of a goal so significant, it won't let them coast. Kris explained that without such a powerful "why," even billion-dollar companies can feel hollow.

Action Insight:

Ask yourself: What’s your Mars photo? 

If you still wake up with that sense of urgent excitement to reshape an industry, serve a market, or solve a giant problem, you’re a lot closer to your next leap than you think.

Keep that vision front and center—like Musk’s colonized Mars—so it fuels you through inevitable setbacks.

Thanks for reading and see you next week!

Roman

P.S. (And yes, I am still a big fan of Elon Musk, not just despite the smear campaigns against him but because of them, in case you wondered.)

How can I help?

Like newsletters? Here are some newsletters our readers also enjoy. Explore

Accomplish More. Juggle Less.

When you love what you do, it can be easy to take on more — more tasks, more deadlines, more hours – but before you know it, you don’t have time to do what you loved in the beginning. Don’t just do more – do more of what you do best.

BELAY’s flexible staffing solutions leverage industry experience with AI systems to increase productivity without sacrificing quality. You can accomplish more and juggle less with our exceptional U.S.-based Virtual Assistants, Accounting Professionals, and Marketing Assistants. Learn how with our free ebook, Delegate to Elevate, and leave the more to BELAY.

Download now