Many people aspire to success, whether it’s in business, sports, or other areas of life. Successful people often have certain traits and habits that make them a cut above the rest. While many of these intangible factors aren’t directly within your control, you can learn how to model the behaviors of successful people and apply them to your own life.
The most common trait of successful people is a strong work ethic. They believe that hard work pays off and are willing to put in the hours it takes to see results. For example, billionaire John Paul DeJoria, who co-founded Paul Mitchell hair products and Patron tequila, credits his success to having a solid work ethic, noting that he often worked 60 hours a week during his entrepreneurial days.
Another intangible factor that sets successful people apart is their resilience. They are able to rebound from failure and remain determined to reach their goals even in the face of adversity. This mindset is key for Navy SEALs going through intense training, Olympians overcoming injury, and entrepreneurs taking risks and disrupting industries.
Other key traits of successful people are their discipline and dedication to their craft. They understand that the path to success requires daily preparation and relentless prioritization, a process they call “embracing the suck.” This is the concept of accepting discomfort, pushing through barriers, and working through the tough times in order to achieve your goals.
Finally, successful people are efficient with their time and resources. They’re able to identify and remove unnecessary distractions, which allows them to focus on what really matters. They also learn to be thrifty with their money and use comparison-shopping, negotiation, and budgeting strategies to save more than they spend.
Successful people are often able to create a clear roadmap for success by breaking down larger objectives into actionable steps. This approach helps them to stay focused and avoid getting overwhelmed or discouraged when tackling challenging tasks.
Successful people know what they value in their lives, including family time, exercise, and giving back to others. They consciously allocate the 1,440 minutes in a day that they have to these areas, making them an important part of their routines. They also take the time to set up their daily to-do lists, which helps them maintain a level of accountability and feel a sense of accomplishment when each task is crossed off.