by Many of us follow the lives of the world’s richest men and women with envy, wondering what luck befell them which allowed them to reach the upper stratosphere of wealth. For the most part though, becoming successful really has nothing to do with luck, and everything to do with a few common traits which all successful people possess.
In understanding what rich and successful people do differently, you’ll unlock the secrets to your own success. Here, we take some advice from those who have achieved incredible success to bring you 10 traits you should search for in yourself in the pursuit of your dreams.
1. They Aren’t Afraid Of Accepting Help
Some of the world’s most successful billionaires have attributed their success to their mentors. Even the likes of Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates received help from mentors who shaped them into who they have become today. Oprah once said of her mentor, Barbara Walters, “Had there not been you, there never would have been me.”
Help doesn’t just have to come in the form of mentorship either. Many of the world’s richest people are avid readers and take time regularly to learn.
2. They Are Highly Effective Decision-Makers
In a world of increasingly complex decisions placed on us every day, those who don’t hesitate when it comes to making choices are the ones who come out on top. Highly successful people make decisions fast and without emotion. Sometimes, they’re not always the right ones but with a mindset which propels them to constantly move forward, they make progress with everything they do.
3. They’re Not Afraid To Make Mistakes
One of the most common themes among successful people is their view on failure. Look at any self-made billionaire, and you’ll likely be able to find a quote which confirms it. Spanx founder, Sarah Blakely saw the bright side of failure when she said, “it’s important to be willing to make mistakes. The worst thing that can happen is you become memorable.” Bill Gates went as far to point out the shortcomings of early success when he remarked, “Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”
Perhaps one successful person who highlighted the downfalls which comes with the fear of making mistakes was JK Rowling who said, “Some failure in life is inevitable. It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all—in which case, you fail by default.”
4. They Innovate At All Costs
Identifying the next big opportunity and recognizing when something is no longer working is a key trait of highly successful people. Constantly innovating and inspiring the evolution of their business ensures their lasting success. To cease in moving forward is to allow success to wane. As Warren Buffet put it, “If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians.”
Most accomplished people also note that innovation comes with certain downsides, namely negative opinions of peers. But what successful person ever stopped doing what they thought was right because of criticism? In fact, Amazon founder, Jeff Bezos made light of this aspect of business when he said, “If you can’t tolerate critics, don’t do anything new or interesting.”
5. They Overcome Their Obstacles
For successful people, obstacles aren’t really an option. When something throws them off course, they carve out a new one. Elon Musk recognized that “when something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor”, highlighting another important trait wealthy people: they really want it!
6. They Don’t Take Anything For Granted
Humility keeps successful people on their toes and provides a catalyst for their continued prosperity. In understanding that, no matter how wealthy they are, everything could be gone in an instant, their desire to strive for more never diminishes. Oprah’s advice “that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure” epitomizes this resolve.
7. They Take Risks
You’ve probably heard the saying that without risk, there’s no reward, and the world’s wealthiest people certainly live by that notion. In fact, Facebook CEO and one of the world’s youngest billionaires, Mark Zuckerberg deems risk-taking to be the only viable option, remarking that “the biggest risk is not taking any risk … In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.”
8. They Work Hard…And Then Work Some More
Indian steel magnate, Lakshmi Mittal said, “Hard work certainly goes a long way. These days a lot of people work hard, so you have to make sure you work even harder and really dedicate yourself to what you are doing and setting out to achieve.” It’s a common theme you’ll find among all successful entrepreneurs. From working 18-hour days to making personal sacrifices to ensure they reach their goals, the strong work ethic of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs in undeniable.
9. They have confidence in themselves
It’s something that so many people lack, but one of the key differences between the rich and successful and us mere mortals is self-confidence. With an ultimate faith in their ability and courage to move forward in spite of negative feedback from friends and family, successful people don’t let limiting beliefs hold them back. Steve Jobs’ advice was, “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”
10. They Know Their Success Is Down To Them
If successful people want something, they know that the only person to get them there is them! It’s usually why they were successful in the first instance. They don’t rest on their laurels, awaiting riches to wash over them, they put their plans into motion and do everything within their power to achieve their goals. Australian mining Tycoon, Gina Reinhart put it in plain terms when she said, “There is no monopoly on becoming a millionaire. If you’re jealous of those with more money, don’t just sit there and complain.”
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