In every industry, there has always been and always will be a small percentage of people who are responsible for the majority of the results produced. What separates these top performers from everyone else is their character. It takes a certain character to rise to the top of your industry. Here are 10 characteristics that successful people in virtually every industry have in common:
10 Characteristics of Highly Successful People
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Passion For What They Do
To perform consistently at a high level you will need high levels of energy. Amateurs resort to quick fixes such as caffeine to get them through the day. Successful people know that passion is the greatest energizer. Passion fuels your excitement, your dedication and your performance. Plus, people prefer to deal with someone who is passionate about what they do. Passionate people are more enjoyable to work with.
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Control Over Their Attitude
Successful people know that there are a million things that are beyond their control. But the one thing they can control is their attitude. They can control whether or not they allow any negative external stimuli to affect their performance. They can choose to pro-actively maintain a positive attitude, rather than allow themselves to be reactive to their environment. It is easier said than done, but in order to succeed, you need to be able to protect and maintain your positive attitude.
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High Level of Integrity
Integrity means doing what you say you are going to do. It means telling the truth. It means doing the right thing even when no one is watching. It is not something you commit to once in a while. Integrity is something you must be committed to maintaining always and forever. Your reputation is worth more than you may realize. Don’t jeopardize it by cheating, lying, or manipulating others.
Every interaction with another person is an opportunity to show respect and demonstrate integrity. Our reputation depends largely on how we interact with others. If the people who cross paths with you are better off because of it, you will harvest a good reputation. If the people who cross paths with you are worse off because of it, your reputation will suffer.
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Humility
Successful people understand that even as they become experts in their field, there will always be more for them to learn. They also understand that nobody will ever be perfect. We all make mistakes from time to time. Successful people are confident, but not arrogant. They have high self-esteem, but are cautious not to let their egos get out of control. They don’t let success get to their head and they don’t let failure get to their heart. They continue to learn from every experience, and are able to laugh at themselves when they make mistakes.
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Strong Work Ethic
Anything that you set aside time for deserves 100% of your effort and focus. When you dedicate time for a certain activity, you must use that time productively. Whatever task is in front of you, give that task your full effort and attention. Wake up every morning with the determination to be as productive as you can, give the day everything you’ve got, and enjoy the feeling of satisfaction when you go to bed at night.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the only thing that requires hard work is their career. Every area of your life deserves hard work. Work hard at maintaining good health, work hard at maintaining good relationships, work hard at building wealth, and work hard at maintaining balance.
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Professionalism
Professionalism refers to the manner in which you conduct yourself. It includes your vocabulary, your behavior, your demeanor, and your appearance. A high level of professionalism in these areas ensures you project a positive impression upon the people you meet and interact with. Punctuality is also very important. Successful people understand the value of time and make a point of respecting it. They are not late for their commitments and they do not unnecessarily consume the time of others.
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Preparation
Successful people are always prepared. Behind every great performance are countless hours of practice and preparation. Think of an athlete who wins a gold medal in the Olympics. Of all the other athletes they competed against, they were likely the most prepared. Proper preparation ensures that when an opportunity is presented to you, you are ready to seize it and excel.
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Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Successful people never stop learning and growing. They know that there is no such thing as stagnation. We are either growing or dying. We are either becoming more valuable or we are becoming more irrelevant. They make it a priority to invest in their own personal growth by taking courses, attending seminars, reading books, listening to audio programs, acquiring new skills, and learning from other successful individuals.
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Resilience
Successful people are not afraid of rejection, setbacks or failures. They embrace them, they learn from them, and they become motivated by them. Sure, they might become emotional or frustrated for a short period of time, but they rebound from setbacks almost immediately. They are mentally tough and emotionally resilient.
Resilience affects your ability to persist when faced with challenges. Those who are not resilient find it extremely difficult to persist when the journey becomes harder than they anticipated. Interpret every rejection, setback, and failure as an opportunity to strengthen your resilience. What doesn’t break you makes you.
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Boldness
Successful people are not afraid to take action. They do not allow themselves to remain paralyzed by their fears. They are not afraid to step outside of their comfort zone, and they do not spend more time than necessary in “preparation mode”. They believe in taking immediate action and learning as they go along. They respond to feedback and make adjustments, but they never stop moving closer to their goals.
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