The Mark of Success: 50 Common Traits of Prosperous People

Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah, Elon Musk; these are some of the most successful people alive today, creating a legacy of contributions to society that also come with unprecedented wealth. But apart from being ultra accomplished, rich, and powerful, they have far more in common than you might think.

In fact, just about every person who is successful at their chosen vocation, whether it’s founding a world-changing charity, being the G.O.A.T. at their professional sport, or building a business empire, has the same traits in common.

Robert Kiyosaki, Warren Buffet, Donald Bren, Donald Trump and others may have built their success based on real estate and shrewd investments, but these traits will apply to the average person, too, helping anyone achieve great things.

Here are our first 25 common traits of prosperous people, and look for 25 more in part two:

1.         They aren't afraid to put in extra work.

People who achieve big things in life invest extra effort, thought, and creativity into everything they do, no matter how big or small.

2.         Sacrifice. 

When you look at those who achieve excellence in any walk of life, the common pattern is that that had to forgo other fun, comfortable, and even profitable activities in order to focus on a much larger goal. However, this sacrifice is always worth it.

3.         They put in long hours doing what they love.

Successful people got the hard work out of the way early, not looking for shortcuts or get-rich-quick schemes. By doing, they learned to refine their work, maximizing the outcome and minimizing the effort so they grow incredibly efficient.

4.         Problem-solving.

Instead of getting derailed by distractions and day-to-day obstacles, they're always focused on the target, asking questions like: how can I improve?  What is lacking or holding me back?  There is a built-in evaluation of every project they undertake.

5.         Self-awareness.

People who accomplish great things in life hold a deep-seeded confidence in their abilities, but also have an honest and accurate sense of their own strengths and weaknesses. 

6.         Curiosity.

Some of the most unlikely experience gives rise to the best ideas.  Great thinkers get outside their bubble, and open themselves up with a relentless curiosity about the world.

7.         Specialization.

They have become better and better at one thing instead of trying to be proficient in many things. They are specialists; not generalists.

8.         Literacy.

There is no substitute for reading and learning, and ultra-achievers read non-stop. Studies show that 88% of wealthy read 30 minutes or more every day. Reading is part of that core skill set, no matter the discipline.

9.         Organization and goal setting.

 81% of wealthy and successful people scratch things off a daily To Do list, compared to only 19% of working class people. Just the act of writing down goals is very powerful, allowing the mind to prioritize and receive a jolt of satisfaction from completing even simple tasks.

10.       Wise use of time.

Successful people use their downtime to inspire their projects and explore other ways of thinking.  Since time is our greatest asset, successful people don't spend theirs on empty entertainment. In fact, 67% of wealthy people watch one hour or less of TV every day, while 23% of poor people do, and only 6% of wealthy watch reality TV shows vs. 78% of poor.

11.       Milestones.

Setting tangible goals with concrete timetables and planning the action steps to achieve them is crucial to success.  Being able to break down big goals into smaller milestones is key, along with constant reevaluation of their plan as circumstances shift. If we don't, then we aren't experiencing progress and our projects quickly lose momentum.

12.       They understand that failure is not the enemy.

They aren't afraid of making mistakes and even failing because they know it leads to growth.  In fact, if they don't go through enough failure in their lives they understand they're not taking enough risks.

13.       Optimism bias.

Successful people don't wait around to get lucky; they create their own opportunities with hard work, smart planning, and confidence in their efforts. In fact, 84% of wealthy believe good habits create opportunity instead of luck, while only 4% of poor believe the same. Furthermore, 76% of wealthy attribute bad habits to bad "luck" vs. 9% of poor.

14.       They take responsibility.

People who own their actions - good and bad - exhibit supreme accountability. By taking responsibility for the outcomes in their life, they are automatically empowered to change and grow.

15.       Flexible thinking.

Mental agility takes practice, but it’s a necessary skill. Successful people have firm moral and ethical values but flexible thinking based on new information, adjusting their sails depending on how they wind blows. 

16.       Create vs. consume.

Instead of just building wealth and acquiring material comforts, they focus on providing value and building something of worth, whether it's a new business, building a house, or forming a non-profit.

17.       Presence of mind.

The single most important step to happiness is focusing on being fully present and immersed in the moment. This, combined with incessant gratitude, is the mark of super successful people.

18.       Motivation.

Mega high achievers dare to dream about the unattainable...then they attain it!  In fact, 80% of wealthy and successful people are focused on a singular goal – and never take their eye off the ball.

19.       Persistence.

They just don't quit, because it's not even an option. You hear great minds talk about setbacks and disappointments, but they understand that their success is earned by bouncing back.

20.       Dissatisfaction with the status quo.

It’s really about developing a vision rather than accepting mediocrity. 

21.       They lock in and focus – not multi-task.

Multi-tasking is a myth that amounts to “do everything badly.” The human brain can only fully focus on one thing at a time.  Successful people know this and don’t try to juggle – work in immersed short bursts of concerted effort.

22.       Tireless ambition.

Achievers don’t compromise, soften, or quit on their goals. They forgo the safety of too much routine and instead push toward larger self-directed achievements.

23.       They seek out positive learning relationships. 

No one gets great in isolation, and any genius will tell you that they had tons of mentors and also taught themselves.  Exchanging ideas with people who are not like you but may have complementary skills can push you from being very good to excellent.

24.       They surround themselves with people they emulate.

Understand that whoever you spend the most time with is going to determine what you do yourself. Therefore, seek out positive, inspiring, energetic, kind, and dynamic people as friends, co-workers, and collaborators.

25.       They’re consummate networkers.

As the saying goes: your network is your net worth.  We have to talk about our projects in the same energizing way that successful people do to draw in support and create partnerships. In fact, 79% of wealthy people network five hours or more each month to move their projects forward.

***