Some of the
most successful people in recent history include Bill Gates, Warren Buffet,
Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Mark Zuckerberg, Oprah, and Elon Musk,
establishing important legacies that benefit society. But apart from being
ultra-rich and powerful, they have far more in common than you might think.
In part one of
this series, we covered 25 traits of the world’s most prosperous people, which
was warmly received with your questions, comments, and observations. So, we’ve
worked hard to isolate the next 25 common traits of the rich, successful, and
powerful here:
26. Incredible communication skills.
High achievers
are almost always great communicators, interacting with others efficiently
using simple, clear, and concise messages, whether in person or in
writing. This also includes the ability
to actively listen – a vastly undervalued skill.
27. Masters at conflict resolution.
Industry
leaders and icons don’t shy from conflict. Known as straight-shooters, they
understand that it’s a healthy and necessary function of growth. That doesn’t
mean they’re necessarily aggressive or combative, but let others speak their
minds, vent, and advocate for their own opinion, just like they do. By facing
conflict head-on, they’re able to work through it, solving problems instead of
letting them fester.
28. They keep their egos in check.
Successful
people want to learn from others so that they can constantly grow and
improve. Instead of taking things
personally and quickly becoming defensive, maintain perspective and seize the
opportunity.
29. Adopting others’ viewpoints.
The mark of a
great mind is that it can consider two opposing viewpoints at the same
time. Leaders and succeed-ers can do the
same with people, having empathy for others by adopting their viewpoints. They
are always looking to add information to their existing opinion, which remains
open and flexible.
30. They outsource.
We may think
that top producers are control freaks and do everything themselves but, in
fact, they actually maximize time, energy, skills, and income by outsourcing
whenever possible. They do the math and figure out when it makes sense for them
to handle certain tasks, or when to assign it to someone else.
31. Teamwork.
Achievers work
with the best financial planners, tax professionals, attorneys, and other
skilled professional they can find. They
build epic teams, and outsource as much of their systems as possible,
understanding their role and focusing on their own strengths.
32. Focus on interpersonal relationships.
Genuine,
personal relationships are invaluable. Prosperous people don’t rely on
technology to establish and fosters relationships for them. They call and talk, set up meetings and take
the time to interact – face-to-face whenever possible. They also give you their
undivided attention and interest when speaking with you.
33. Eating right.
Hi-power
thinkers, achievers, and do-ers take great care of themselves, and that starts
with eating right. The brain won't run optimally without the right fuel, and a
healthy routine is essential for the heights they are climbing every day.
34. They heed their creative/energy time.
It’s
fascinating when you look at the creative cycles of geniuses; not only do they
understand their optimal thinking and working times, they block that time and
protect it fiercely.
35. Stay active.
Just like with
food, exercise is a big piece of staying on top of success. No matter how busy
they get, successful people have a very regular exercise routine as well as
making their health a priority.
36. Relaxation.
Successful
people are able to breathe, stay calm, and think clearly because they regularly
decompress to shed the extreme stress of their day. Their relaxation ritual can be simple
meditation, yoga, getting a massage or going for a walk.
37. Stamina.
This trait is
usually overlooked, but successful people work long hours and expend incredible
amounts of energy day after day. They understand that special achievements take
special perseverance over the long haul.
38. Quality time.
No matter how
busy they are, successful people schedule time off to spend time with their
families, see friends, and enjoy their lives.
39. Fun!
Likewise,
winners embrace the journey, not the destination and have fun as they work,
play, or whatever they’re doing. That positive outlook rounds out their lives.
40. Financial discipline.
The billionaire
not-quite-next-door is extremely careful and structured with his or her
money. Even before they achieve wealth,
they track all of the income and expenses, whether it’s by inputting them into
a spreadsheet, saving receipts, or using tracking software.
41. Lack of conspicuous consumption.
Research shows
that when people have earned large
amounts of money, they still rarely show off their wealth. In fact, owning things is not really the
point of their existence. Instead, they save and reinvest for the long term,
using their wealth to pay for experiences, rather than things.
42. Quality of life.
The wealthy do
go on adventures, occasionally treat themselves to luxury items, and will go
all-out for their families, but they do these things within a larger framework
of smart planning and understanding value.
43. Big picture thinking.
People who live
meaningful and comfortable lives don’t buy assets with the exception of quick
riches or short-term gains. Instead, they make quality investments and hold
them, with the eye toward creating something that will pay them back many times
over the decades.
44. Invest young.
Even in their
20’s, these folks understand the power of compounding. By putting money into 401k’s, Roth IRA’s and
the like early, they benefit from high returns as they get closer to
retirement.
45. Automated savings.
Whatever they
earn, successful people break off a tiny piece and stash it, deducting it
directly from each paycheck. This is what they mean by “pay yourself first,” as
it gives them a solid foundation to invest and grow before they ever touch the
rest of the funds for basics or play.
46. Plan for rainy days.
Successful
people may take risks, but they definitely are pragmatic as well, planning and
preparing for the unforeseen. They keep a good amount of savings, make sure
they are well insured and protected, and generally minimize liability in every
aspect of their lives.
47. They pay off bad debt.
Interest from
credit cards, car loans, and other credit is a silent killer for many family
budgets. In fact, successful people universally pay off credit cards, car
loans, small installment loans, and don’t carry personal debt on a
month-to-month basis. While they often pay off their mortgages as well, they
distinguish between “good debt” that helps with investment, taxes, and credit,
and “bad” debt that just depletes their bank account.
48. They can be great because they can serve.
These people
reach a certain height of success where happiness is measured by how much they
can positively impact the world, not just themselves. To do so, they serve on
Boards, advise, mentor, attend community meetings, vote, and even support
politicians that serve in their civic interests.
49. A core of altruism.
From Bill Gates
to Warren Buffet to the Oprah, just about every notable accomplished person
donates significant sums to those in need. But they create the convenient
excuse that they’ll become rich first, and then start giving; they make it a
part of their life from early on.
50. They love to work, and never want to
quit.
People who lead
truly exceptional lives rarely look forward to a time they can retire and stop
working Instead, they are extremely passionate about what they do for a living.
Their work brings them joy, so they want to keep being productive as long as
they can!
