I’ve spent many years
studying successful people and have identified the skills, talents, and
characteristics that enable them to succeed. As you look at and study these
skills, talents, and characteristics, you’ll realize that you possess many of
them yourself. Some of these skills and talents are more dominant than others
and will play a greater part in your being, or becoming, a success in the
business of life. These are the things you do well. The things you do easily
and effortlessly. These are your strengths. When you find you need a skill or
talent you don’t have, just go out and look for a person or group of people
with the skills, talents, and training you need. Skills and talents that
complement your own. These people will become your teammates, colleagues,
co-workers, professional advisors, and friends. With these combined skills and
talents organizations grow, prosper, and become successful.
These are the five
things you’ll find every successful person has in common:
1. They have a dream.
2. They have a plan.
3. They have specific
knowledge or training.
4. They’re willing to
work hard.
5. They don’t take no
for an answer.
Remember:
Success begins with a
state of mind. You must believe you’ll be successful in order to become a
success. The following is a list of the skills, talents, and characteristics
you’ll find in successful people:
- Successful People Have a Dream.
They have a
well-defined purpose. They have a definite goal. They know what they want. They
aren’t easily influenced by the thoughts and opinions of others. They have
willpower. They have ideas. Their strong desire brings strong results. They go out
and do things that others say can’t be done.
Remember:
It only takes one sound
idea to achieve success.
Remember:
People who excel in
life are those who produce results, not excuses. Anybody can come up with
excuses and explanations for why he hasn’t made it. Those who want to succeed
badly enough don’t make excuses.
- Successful People Have Ambition.
They want to accomplish
something. They have enthusiasm, commitment, and pride. They have self-discipline.
They’re willing to work hard and to go the extra mile. They have a burning
desire to succeed. They’re willing todo whatever it takes to get the job done.
Remember:
With hard work come
results. The joy in life comes with working for and achieving something.
They take great satisfaction
in accomplishing a task.
4. Successful People
Are Focused.
They concentrate on
their main goals and objectives. They don’t get sidetracked. They don’t
procrastinate. They work on the projects that are important, and don’t allow
those projects to sit until the last minute. They’re productive, not just busy.
5. Successful People
Learn How to Get Things Done.
They use their skills
, talents, energies, and
knowledge to the fullest extent possible. They do the things that need to be
done, not just the things they like to do. They are willing to work hard and to
commit themselves to getting the job done.
Remember:
Happiness is found in
doing and accomplishing, not in owning and possessing. Anecdote Many years ago
I was asked: "Jeff, do you like pleasing habits or pleasing results?"
As I pondered that probing question, and squirmed in my chair like a worm at
the end of a hook, I felt as if I had painted myself into a corner. A few
moments later I answered: "I like pleasing results." From that moment
on my life changed. I began to do the things that were difficult, because they
enabled me to achieve my goals.
6. Successful People
Take Responsibility for Their Actions.
They don’t make
excuses. They don’t blame others. They don’t whine and complain.
7. Successful People
Look for Solutions to Problems.
They’re opportunity
minded. When they see opportunities they take advantage of them.
8. Successful People
Make Decisions.
They think about the
issues and relevant facts, give them adequate deliberation and consideration,
and make a decision. Decisions aren’t put off or delayed, they’re made now! Success
Tip Spend more time thinking and planning before you make your decision, and
you’ll make better decisions. Success Tip When you don’t get the expected results
from the decision you’ve made, change your course of action. Decisions should
never be carved in stone.
9. Successful People
Have the Courage to Admit They’ve Made a Mistake. When you make a mistake,
admit it, fix it, and move on. Don’t waste a lot of time, energy, money, and/or
other resources trying to defend a mistake or a bad decision.
Remember:
When people are wrong,
they may admit it to themselves. If they are handled gently and tactfully, they
may admit it to others and even take pride in
their frankness and
broad-mindedness. But people become very defensive and angry when others try to
cram their mistakes down their throats.
10. Successful People Are
Self-Reliant. They have the skills, talents, and training that are needed in
order to be successful.
11. Successful People
Have Specific Knowledge, Training, and/or Skills and Talents.
They know the things
they need to know to be successful. And when they need information,
