The Results Pyramid is a powerful framework that shows how your experiences, beliefs, and actions shape the results you achieve in life and leadership. For young adults seeking direction, purpose, or success, this tool offers clarity and a step-by-step way to understand why you get the results you do—and how to change them.
Why Understanding the Results Pyramid Matters
Think for a moment about your daily actions. Why do you study, work hard, or chase certain goals? Often, the motivation comes from habits and beliefs formed long ago. In fact, research shows that 43% of your day is made up of habits. That means nearly half of your decisions are shaped not by conscious choice, but by patterns created through your experiences.
This is where the Results Pyramid comes in. Rather than just looking at results on the surface, the pyramid teaches you to dig deeper. Results don’t happen by accident. They are created by your actions, which are influenced by your beliefs, which are rooted in your experiences. Once you understand this chain, you gain control over how to create the future you want.
At Cumorah Academy, we use tools like the Results Pyramid to help young adults not only imagine their goals but also take practical steps to reach them.
The Four Layers of the Results Pyramid
The Results Pyramid has four layers, each building on the one beneath it:
- Results (Top Layer): These are the visible, measurable outcomes in your life or organization—such as getting a job, improving teamwork, or finishing a project.
- Actions (Second Layer): Actions are the behaviors that produce results. Every action is driven by something deeper.
- Beliefs (Third Layer): Beliefs are the values, attitudes, and assumptions that shape how you act. They often come from repeated messages and personal convictions.
- Experiences (Bottom Layer): Experiences are the foundation. They create and reinforce beliefs over time. Everything you’ve lived—your education, relationships, successes, and failures—has shaped the way you see the world.
When you connect these four layers, you realize that lasting change doesn’t start with trying harder at the “results” level. It begins with creating new experiences that can shape beliefs, drive actions, and ultimately lead to better outcomes.
The Results Pyramid in Organizations
The concept of the Results Pyramid was introduced by Roger Connors and Tom Smith in their bestselling book Change the Culture, Change the Game. They highlight a common mistake in leadership: focusing only on actions. Leaders often tell people what to do without addressing the beliefs that drive those actions.
As Connors and Smith write:
“Too often, leaders attempt to change the way people act without changing the way they think. As a result, they get compliance, but not commitment; involvement, but not investment; and progress, but not lasting performance.”
This insight shows why the Results Pyramid is so valuable for organizations. By shaping the experiences and beliefs of their teams, leaders can create a culture that naturally drives the right actions and sustainable results.
At Cumorah Academy, students learn to apply these same principles not just in business, but also in their personal lives. Leadership isn’t just about telling others what to do—it’s about understanding how culture and beliefs drive real change.
The Results Pyramid for Your Life
While the Results Pyramid is often taught in the business world, it’s equally powerful for personal growth. Look closely at your own life: the results you see today are shaped by your past experiences, the beliefs you’ve built from them, and the actions you chose to take.
Here’s a practical way you can apply the Results Pyramid to your own goals:
- Define your desired results clearly. Be specific. Instead of saying, “I want to do better,” write: “I will complete my certificate by September” or “I will apply for three internships by the end of the month.”
- Identify the necessary actions. Ask yourself: What concrete steps will get me there? Brian Tracy, in his book Eat That Frog, suggests working backward—imagine the result as already achieved, then list the steps you would have taken to reach it.
- Uncover the beliefs behind those actions. Do you believe you’re capable? Do you believe discipline pays off? Writing down these beliefs makes them stronger.
- Trace those beliefs back to your experiences. Reflect on the experiences that shaped you. Maybe you once succeeded after consistent effort, or perhaps a mentor encouraged you. Recognizing these connections helps you see where your motivation comes from—and where new experiences could strengthen it.
When you do this exercise, you’ll notice how powerful experiences can be. For example, traveling abroad, working on a project with new friends, or receiving feedback from a mentor can completely shift your beliefs and inspire new actions.
Building Better Experiences for Better Results
The takeaway from the Results Pyramid is simple but life-changing: if you want better results, seek better experiences.
This doesn’t mean waiting passively for something to happen. It means actively creating experiences that will reinforce the beliefs and actions leading to your goals.
At Cumorah Academy, this is exactly what students experience. From leadership training to real-world projects, every day is filled with opportunities to reshape beliefs through meaningful experiences. These experiences don’t just improve academic or professional skills—they transform lives.
Why Young Adults Should Care About the Results Pyramid
If you are between 18 and 35, you are at a stage where your experiences will shape the course of your future. The habits you build now, the communities you join, and the beliefs you strengthen will directly impact your career, relationships, and leadership potential.
The Results Pyramid gives you a framework to take control of that process. Instead of drifting through life or waiting for results to change, you can intentionally build experiences that lead to growth.
Think of it this way: You’re already applying the Results Pyramid unconsciously. The results you have right now came from past experiences. The real question is—will you start using this tool consciously to create the results you want?
Meet Patrick Sedivy: Shaping Leaders at Cumorah Academy
Patrick Sedivy, founder and CEO of Cumorah Academy, is a successful businessman whose vision, alongside his wife Allyse, laid the foundation for everything the academy stands for. Fall semester students had the unique opportunity to learn directly from Patrick during the very first week of classes.
Born and raised in Canada, Patrick served a religious mission in the Czech Republic and later graduated in Civil Engineering from Brigham Young University (BYU). “I’ve never done a day of Civil Engineering in my life,” he jokes; a testament to the unpredictable journeys that shape leaders. He began his career in entrepreneurship by starting and operating many businesses with his wife in many different areas, including education, retail, wholesale, and others.
This week, Patrick focused on the Results Pyramid, teaching students how to connect their experiences, beliefs, and actions to achieve meaningful results. His lessons emphasized the importance of leadership through service, inspiring students to think beyond personal success and toward making a positive impact on others.
One student from Brazil, Morôni da Silva, reflected on Patrick’s teachings:
“It gave me a new vision and perspective on my purpose. Being successful doesn’t just mean having resources, but feeling fulfilled, giving back to someone when you receive it, and being there for others when they need it.”
Patrick’s guidance embodies the mission of Cumorah Academy: to ensure that lessons from the classroom translate into lasting change in students’ lives and the communities they touch.
Your Next Step: Join a Life-Changing Experience
In a nutshell, the Results Pyramid is more than just a leadership tool. It’s a life framework. Whether in organizations or personal growth, it teaches us that results are never random—they are built layer by layer, from experiences to beliefs to actions.
At Cumorah Academy, we don’t just teach theory. We give students the chance to live experiences that shape beliefs, inspire actions, and deliver lasting results.
If reading this article has helped you reflect on your personal goals, imagine what could happen if you immersed yourself in a community designed for growth. Can you picture the experiences you would have on our campus? Can you see how they would transform your beliefs, actions, and results?
Don’t just dream about change—live it. Apply now for a semester at Cumorah Academy and join a global community committed to achieving excellence.
Written by Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
