In many ways successful people are just like unsuccessful people. They
come from all sorts of backgrounds, all types of demographics, have all levels of education and experience and expertise.
In many ways successful people are the same as everyone else. Yet look closely and you'll see that in certain key ways, they are very, very different.
Here are the qualities that set
exceptional people apart:
1. They love when others win
Successful people can't stand playing politics--and to some degree, people who play politics. Politically motivated people hate when other people earn praise or recognition; they instinctively
feel that diminishes the light from their star.
Others aren't competitive, at least not in that way. They want to be recognized, but their accomplishments don't preclude others from doing great things, too.
They want everyone else who does something awesome to get recognized,
too.
2. They desperately want to see ideas come to fruition
Maybe they love to dream up their own ideas. Or maybe they love to help others build out their ideas. Either way, successful people want to make things happen -- new, exciting, crazy,
groundbreaking things.
Successful people don't want to manage what already exists; they want to create what doesn't exist -- yet.
3. They're meta-thinkers
They love big ideas. The greater the challenge, the greater the pleasure gained. Problem solving is cat’s meat. It gives them the inducement to simplify worn out and tired ways of constantly repeating the same pattern of performing. You don’t need all the answers. Assimilate, conjugate, and go forward. Every act of accomplishment starts with an idea in the mind. Only afterward does it appear as a foregone conclusion to those with less
insight.
4. They believe nothing is sacred
Successful people don't say, "Well, that's just the way it is."
Instead they never feel what is must
always be, because perspectives can be shifted. Laws of physics can be broken. Conventional wisdom may not be wisdom at all.
Even when something huge stands in their way, they know there's a way around it -- they just need to figure it out. Changing a paradigm makes new things possible.
“A man’s mistakes are his portals of discovery.” – James Joyce
5. They embrace nontechnical feedback
Successful people readily take input from others. And they definitely don't put up barriers to
feedback -- feedback, especially critical feedback, is just another problem to solve. Becoming better is more important than their egos.
That's because they don't see feedback as threatening -- they see feedback as enlightening. Plus they know they need a lot more feedback on interpersonal skills and personal growth than on technical skills.
Why? Technical issues are obvious. Because they are constantly self-assessing, successful people know their technical limitations better than anyone else. But what other issues might be standing in their way?
6. They actively create their future
selves
In general, successful people realize they are often their own worst enemy. They don't see themselves as controlled by external forces; they think the barrier between what they are and what they want is almost always them.
They plan to become their future selves in advance.
Studies show that this kind of planning will help brain to detect and seize the opportunity when it arises, increasing the chances of success by roughly 300%.
So they're constantly trying to be better tomorrow than they are today -- even if the people around them wish they would just give it a rest.
7. They adore taking things off their plates
Successful people have a tendency to systematize, not to be anal but to take small and large decisions off their plate so they don't have to waste time thinking about them. So they eat similar things, wear similar clothing, and create daily routines They organize so they don't
have to waste brain share on things that don't really matter.
But don't confuse creating routines with being compulsive. Successful people will change a routine the moment they see a flaw or an opportunity to make an improvement.
There's method to the apparent madness -- you just have to look for
it.
8. They're awesome at leveraging self-reward
Successful people almost always do the things they have to do before they tackle the things they want to do. They use what they want to do as a reward. And that means the more things they have to do, the more they'll get done.
But that doesn't mean they're great at celebrating success. Because they're constantly trying to improve, a "big win" isn't big -- it's simply the outcome of all the things they did to make it come true.
9. They believe they're in total control
Successful people understand the true meaning of self-control. It’s not about denial or wearing a hair shirt. It’s about living a principled set of guidelines which put you touch with your inner self. Although this is a stretch experience, successful
people recognize with each day they are that much nearer to mastering their own purpose in life. Routines and compulsiveness are for people who are afraid of being free. Let go of everything which holds them back.
Many people feel luck has a lot to do with success or failure: If they succeed, luck played a part; if they fail, the odds just didn't go their way.
Successful people feel they have complete control over their success or failure. If they succeed, they caused it. If they fail, they caused it.
10. Understand That Life Is A Journey Not A Destination
Many people are always looking for closure. However, successful people know that when one thing is done another project or challenge will take its place. They don’t mind, but take this in stride. They understand that the true purpose of life is to live a life of purpose. Trinkets and trash hold no allure. Their true pleasure is making a difference.
In the end, it takes consistent practice to be successful. Success doesn’t happen by accident, but because you have committed yourself to certain activities, that will help you reach your goals.
