Probability Hacking Your Goals: Using Numbers To Plan for Success
Most of us have set a Big Goal at some point. Launch a business, write a book, run a marathon, eat less Goldfish crackers at midnight…and then promptly watched it crumble like said crackers at the bottom of the bag.
The problem isn’t that we’re lazy or unserious. The problem is that we treat goals like vague wishes instead of math problems. Math problems Chelsea?! Oh no! Don’t run away. Don’t worry. This isn’t going to stir up any of your high school algebra PTSD, I promise.
As an affiliate partner of various brands and sponsored content, HerPaperRoute may earn commission on qualifying purchases. Disclaimer
Enter: Kyle Austin Young. Kyle is not only an award-winning strategy consultant and writer for heavyweights like Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Psychology Today, he’s also the author of Success is A Numbers Game, a book that argues: “hey, you can literally diagram your odds of success before you even start.”
Yeah. A success diagram. Think of it like probability hacking for your dreams.
Probability Hacking Your Goals: Success Is a Numbers Game, with Kyle Austin Young
On the latest episode of the HerPaperRoute Podcast, Kyle sat down with me to talk about:
- why most of us fail at big goals (spoiler: it’s in the math)
- how to map out the exact steps between you and success
- the underrated power of failing in front of your whiteboard instead of in front of your executive board
- plus his journey publishing a book with a traditional publishing house, and his PR tips to help you get more pitch emails read and replied to
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Young, Kyle Austin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 11/11/2025 (Publication Date) – Hay House Business (Publisher)
One of my favorite moments:
When Kyle walked me through how you can take a lofty dream (like running a marathon in 90 days) and turn it into hard numbers. At first, the odds look depressing: only 34% chance of finishing.
But once you start “probability hacking,” aka planning for rain days, bad sleep, low motivation, and diet slips; those odds jump to 73%. That shift is big. It changes everything.
Suddenly, a dream isn’t just wishful thinking. Instead, it’s a plan with math receipts. Kyle also dropped gems about PR (how to pitch editors at big outlets), what he learned from building and shutting down a subscription stationery business, and why mistakes are just another kind of tuition.
If you’ve ever felt stuck between “manifesting your dreams” and “actually doing the work,” this episode is a worthy listen!
Yes, success might be a numbers game. And when you learn to play it right, you start winning way more often.
Get your copy of Kyle’s book, Success is A Numbers Game. Connect with Kyle via his webiste or LinkedIn.
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Young, Kyle Austin (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 11/11/2025 (Publication Date) – Hay House Business (Publisher)
Follow along on Instagram!
