K.J. Alphons was an unlikely candidate for success. He grew up in a village with no electricity. Although the son of a schoolteacher, he scored only 42 per cent in the board examinations. But he went on to become one of the toppers of the civil services examination and feature on Time magazine's list of 100 young global leaders, becoming an MLA, MP and Union minister. The Winning Formula thus is an illustration of what motivation and faith in oneself can accomplish. Along with anecdotes from his life, he narrates 52 stories, each about a person who has achieved the extraordinary in their own way. Seven days is the perfect amount of time for an idea to percolate and take root. Read a chapter a week, ponder on the idea and let it inspire you to find your purpose in life and become a better human being who can make their home, workplace, community and the world a happier space. These are not unattainable, Utopian ideals; rather they are a roadmap created by ordinary people like you and me to achieve success and change the world.