CommonTraits Of Highly Successful People

We have all read about people who are successful briefly. They win a gold medal, make a fortune, or star in one great movie…and then disappear. Or, there are those like Marilyn Monroe, who achieve extraordinary success, at the cost of their own lives. These examples do not inspire anyone. Successful people recognize the importance of taking care of their physical, emotional, and mental health. They prioritize exercise, healthy eating, sleep, and self-care activities to maintain their well-being and energy. But the real successful people who are focussed on their goals and all the aspects of a balanced life are the ones who work hard. They play hard, too! They get up early, they rarely complain, they expect performance from others, but they expect extraordinary performance from themselves. Repeated, high-level success starts with a recognition that hard work pays off.They manage their time effectively, and are skilled at managing their time and avoiding procrastination. They are incredibly curious and eager to learn. They study, ask questions and read constantly. An interesting point, however, is that while most of them did well in their early life, they took advantage of what they learned. Repeated success is not about memorizing facts, it’s about being able to take information and create, build, or apply it in new and important ways. Successful people want to learn everything about everything. They embrace failure and are not afraid to fail. They recognize failure as a natural part of the learning process, and they use failures as opportunities to grow and improve. They network. They know lots of people, and lots of different kinds of people. They listen to friends, neighbors, co-workers. They don’t have to be people who waste their time on unnecessary activities. In fact many are quiet, even shy, but they value people and they value relationships. Successful people have a database full of people who value their friendship and return their calls. They work on themselves and never quit. While the “overnight wonders” become arrogant and quickly disappear, really successful people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. Successful people don’t tolerate flaws; they fix them. They are extraordinarily creative. They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. Successful people create stuff. They practice gratitude and appreciate the people and things in their lives. They maintain a positive attitude and focus on the good, even during challenging times. Successful people often give back to their communities or contribute to causes they care about. They use their success to make a positive impact on the world around them. They are self-reliant and take responsibility. Incredibly successful people don’t worry about blame, and they don’t waste time complaining. They make decisions and move on. Sometimes they are criticized for taking this to extremes – Jimmy Carter carried his own briefcase which a President cannot be expected to do. Extremely successful people take the initiative and accept the responsibilities of success. They are usually relaxed and keep their perspective. Even in times of stress or turmoil, highly successful people keep their balance, they know the value of timing, humor, and patience. They rarely panic or make decisions on impulse. Unusually successful people breathe easily, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions, even in a crisis. Extremely successful people live in the present moment. They know that NOW is the only time they can control. They have a gift for looking people in the eye, listening to what is being said, enjoying a meal or fine wine, music or playing with a child. They never seem rushed, and they get a lot done! They take full advantage of each day. Successful people don’t waste time, they use it! They look over the horizon to see the future. They observe trends, notice changes, see shifts, and hear the nuances that others miss. Extremely successful people live in the present, with one eye on the future. Repeatedly successful people respond instantly. When an investment isn’t working out, they sell. When they see an opportunity, they make the call. If an important relationship is cooling down, they take time to renew it. When technology or a new competitor or a change in the economic situation requires an adjustment, they are the first and quickest to respond. These traits work together in combination, giving repeatedly successful people a huge advantage over others. Of course, there is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ formula for success, and what works for one person may not work for another. However, these are some common traits and habits that successful people often exhibit because they are insatiable learners, they can respond wisely to change. Because their personal relationships are strong, they have good advisors, and a reserve of goodwill when things go bad. And finally, none of these traits are genetic! They can be learned! They are free and they are skills you can use. So there is always a time for everyone to START.