Book Review: Success DNA – Mastering Persistence in Leadership and Life

There are books that entertain. Others that educate. And then, once in a while, comes a book that changes the lens through which you see your life, leadership, and purpose. Success DNA: Mastering Persistence in Leadership and Life, a powerful anthology curated by Alinka Rutkowska and brought to life by 20 diverse voices, is exactly that kind of book.

This isn’t your typical “business success” playbook or another leadership book. It’s not filled with shiny, feel-good aphorisms or Instagram-worthy quotes. It’s a candid, raw, and deeply human exploration of what success really means—told through stories of falling, failing, rising, pivoting, and persisting. And for anyone leading a solopreneurial journey or trying to find his/her voice, building a business, raising a family, focus on what matters most, or just trying to stay centered in a turbulent world—this book hits home. Hard.

I’ll say it plainly: Success DNA is one of the most refreshingly authentic leadership books I’ve read in the last few years.

Vulnerability as Strength

What struck me most from the outset was the vulnerability threaded through each chapter. In the opening story, Alinka Rutkowska bestselling author, founder of Leaders Brands, and the driving force behind this collection—shares a brutally honest account of scaling her business too fast, taking misguided advice from mentors in a different season of life, and nearly losing everything. That story could’ve ended in retreat. Instead, it ends in recalibration, rediscovery, and renewal.

This set the tone for the rest of the book: a chorus of leaders who didn’t just “win”—they grew. They made tough calls. They doubted themselves. And they kept showing up anyway.

As someone who has built businesses and coached others through transformation, I can tell you: these kinds of stories are rare. Too often, we hear only the polished victories. Here, the mess is honored—and that’s where the learning lives.

Redefining Success – Personally

The stories in Success DNA work so well because they don’t define success for you. Instead, they invite you to define it for yourself.

Rick Yvanovich’s metaphor of success as a “castle built brick by brick” was especially powerful. He’s not talking about building a company and flipping it. He’s talking about balance, inner alignment, structure, and intention. That resonates deeply with how I approach productivity and purpose: if what you’re building isn’t aligned with your values, it won’t last.

Tyrone Taylor’s journey from corporate roles to becoming a real estate entrepreneur is equally compelling. What I loved most was his honesty about missteps—scaling a property management business that became a burden, then courageously pivoting back toward his true purpose: financial freedom, family presence, and legacy. That kind of realignment is hard. But it’s essential.

And it’s the same lesson repeated throughout the book: success isn’t static. It evolves with your seasons, your struggles, and your soul.

Persistence, not Perfection

At its core, Success DNA is a meditation on persistence. But not the macho, “grind-harder” kind of persistence you might expect. This is intentional persistence—the kind born from clarity, routine, values, and vision.

Dr. Maria-Csilla Békés, a psychotherapist and researcher, reminds us how cultural and relational intelligence impacts leadership. Dr. Rahul Prasad focuses on how you make people feel as the true legacy of success. And Sharmyn Powell, a global leader in fintech, opens up about work-life balance, parenting, and learning to rest as a form of resilience.

I found myself underlining and highlighting relentlessly—not because I was gathering soundbites, but because I was witnessing lived wisdom. Wisdom earned the hard way.

One recurring theme that stood out: successful leaders master not just doing—but undoing. Letting go of misaligned ideas, bad hires, unsustainable models, outdated definitions of success. That’s a form of leadership we don’t talk about enough.

Not Just a Book—A Masterclass in Emotional Endurance

This anthology reads like a series of fireside chats with experienced mentors. You feel the weight of their decisions, the cost of their choices, and the beauty of their breakthroughs.

What makes it such a valuable read is how actionable many of the insights are, despite the personal tone. For example:

• Alinka’s daily structure—meditation, movement, intentional team meetings—is a blueprint many solopreneurs can implement tomorrow.

• Rick Yvanovich’s “castle model” offers a powerful tool for checking your life alignment across purpose, mind, body, finances, and service.

• Tyrone Taylor’s morning ritual (hydrate, meditate, pray, read, move) reminded me how small disciplines shape big destinies.

If you’ve ever struggled with uncertainty, burnout, or the sense that success is always just over the horizon—this book is the antidote. It brings you back to the now, the real, the meaningful.

Who Should Read Success DNA?

If you’re a solopreneur navigating the push-pull of ambition and overwhelm…

If you’re a business leader tired of empty motivational fluff and craving something deeper…

If you’re a creative, coach, consultant, or founder searching for sustainable, values-driven growth…

This book is for you.

And even if you’re just beginning your journey—unsure of what comes next—this collection offers the kind of road-tested encouragement that Google searches and social media reels can never provide.

My Takeaway: Persistence Is a Daily Practice

Reading Success DNA felt like being seen. I’ve walked through my own “growth pains” in business—taken bad advice, overbuilt too fast, ignored warning signs, and come close to burning out. But the stories in this book reminded me that persistence isn’t always bold. Often, it’s quiet. It’s the email you send when you’re tired. The launch you do scared. The conversation you lead even after you’ve failed.

It’s the horse you get back on—even after falling.

There’s a line in Alinka’s chapter that stuck with me:

“Success, I’ve learned, isn’t out there. It’s now. It’s here. It’s built one intentional day at a time—and above all, it belongs to those who persist.”

That’s the heart of this book. And frankly, it’s a message we all need more of—especially in a world obsessed with speed, scale, and surface.

Final Words

Success DNA is an extraordinary compilation of lessons, stories, and strategies that transcends industry, role, and background. It’s not just about achieving more. It’s about becoming more—and helping others rise with you.

Read it. Reflect on it. Revisit it often.

And then, keep building your own success—one intentional day at a time.