10 Things All Successful People Have in Common

SUCCESS [suh k-ses] noun    

the fact of getting or achieving wealth, respect, position or fame; the correct or desired result of an attempt; the accomplishment of one’s goals 

-Merriam-Webster 

Success. We all want it, we all strive for it. 

It ultimately means different things to each of us, however there are a few things all successful people have in common, traits that help them rise above the rest. 

Here are 10 things I’ve discovered over the years that successful people have and we can learn to emulate: 

1. Commitment: When successful people set a goal, nothing stops them from reaching it. They throw 100% of their efforts into the mission and don’t stop until they’ve achieved it. (Sometimes this requires bringing in coaches, mentors and others who will hold them accountable to doing what they committed to, in order to achieve what they want. Olympic and pro-athletes are great examples of this, and so are many CEO’s of the fortune 500.) 

2. Persistence: Obstacles are going to arise, and successful people persist no matter what. They have a Plan B, C, D or E if necessary. They know how to navigate around, over or through obstacles they come across. Successful people are doers. They take consistent action and make things happen, regardless of what they must overcome. 

3. Responsible: No excuses allowed. A successful person is keenly aware of the fact that they are the keeper of their own destiny; they hold the key to their future and take ownership of their mistakes or failures. In their eyes, no one else is in charge of their success, so no one else should be held responsible. 

4. Motivated: They want others to succeed, as much, if not more then they want it for themselves. They encourage, give compliments and focus on keeping bridges mended versus burning them. Success is contagious. Reality shows us again and again, if you want to be successful spend your time around successful people, they’ll motivate you to be your best day after day. 

5. Knowledgeable: Professional and personal growth is absolutely crucial to success. Successful people include reading (or listening to) books as part of their daily habits. They follow other leaders, they attend workshops, conferences and even challenge themselves to study new or different philosophies. The learning never stops for those that create continual success. Learning helps them stay on top of their game, encourages curiosity and leads to increased productivity. Knowledge is power; power of ones ability to create new levels of success. 

I believe you must continually be growing yourself. Without your continual growth, how in the world do you think your staff, clients or business will grow in the direction you want them to? 

6. Communicators: Connecting with like-minded people can do wonders for your business and personal life. Successful people aren’t afraid to ask questions, or for help and often tap into their networks. They are great at continually cultivating relationships. Successful people understand that without relationships, business will not exist; and the better one communicates and builds relationships with their team, vendors and clients, the stronger ones business will be. 

7. Care of Self: Successful people know that scheduling time for prayer, meditation, relaxation,vacations and other activities that bring you happiness will refresh your mind and body on a regular basis is an absolute must. Proper nutrition, daily exercise and consistent sleep each night is also crucial to being able to bring the best version of yourself to all you come in contact with on a daily basis. Good nutrition + healthy body + a relaxed, sharp mind = optimum productivity.  

8. Confident: Arguably one of the most important and difficult traits to master on a continual basis. Believing in one’s self and vision is a necessity and no one does it better than a successful person. Don’t confuse their confidence with arrogance. 

9. Consistent Habits: We all know the old adage, “The early bird catches the worm.” This is absolutely true for the most successful leaders of our time. They wake early and often spend at least 60 minutes practicing disciplined habits such as meditation, prayer, reading, exercise, writing in their gratitude journal and preparing for the successful day ahead. Success does not come by chance, it comes through consistent dedication, commitment and habits. I personally love the line, “Overnight success is a lifetime in the making.” 

10. Leaders: The know that being a leader starts with how we lead ourselves. Are we walking our talk, or simply talking our talk. On a daily basis are consciously and intentionally choosing to bring the best version of our self to our day – to the people and projects we come in contact with. I believe before we can truly lead others, we must first be sure we are leading ourselves to be our best. Being a leader is not just an outward spoken act, it is also a physical act. 

The truth is everyday each of us have an opportunity to lead others to be do the right thing, be the best “them” and we do this through our spoken word, our written word and some would say, most importantly, we do this through our daily actions. The saying “when you’re in the forest, you’re not able to see the trees”, is a great analogy for our lives as well. Continually leading yourself to be a leader will often include hiring a mentor to be that second set of eyes, to help us uncover our blind spots which in-turn can quickly strengthen our ability to lead. 

To your continued and ever-growing success!  

~ Dana 

PS: Interested in creating even more success on a daily basis? Download my Daily GPS Planner at www.DanaEarhart.com. This customized tool will help start your day off strong with a set purpose and intentions. Sign up to receive this and you’ll be on the path to a more organized, (less stressful) and significantly more successful business and life! 

PPS: If you’re interested in strategizing how to SCALE UP your business, apply for a complimentary SCALE UP strategy call TODAY at: www.DanaEarhart.com/Strategy-Call 

With over 20 years experience in consulting, Dana has successfully mentored hundreds for a variety of leadership positions. Today Dana helps small business owners and leaders grow their leadership and results through streamlining and simplifying with systems, structure and strategy. This provides a road map of priorities, improved efficiency and the ability to grow revenues without jeopardizing quality of services delivered or quality of life. In fact, most clients experience an increased sense of fulfillment and happiness in and out of the office when working with Dana. www.DanaEarhart.com * 702.813.3507 * [email protected]