Whether we like it or not, a big part of what we do in life is governed by habits. Even more importantly, habits can lead us to think and feel in certain patterns.
Since habits are so powerful, it’s worth paying attention to the ones that are most effective.
Here are 18 effective habits of successful people, learn them, implement them and make them your own.
1. Successful people are persistent.
They know nothing can take the place of persistence and determination, so they make a habit of never quitting until they get results.
2. Successful people are self-confident.
Self-confidence comes from the habit of mastering yourself, your skills and talents. It’s a process that slowly but surely builds unshakeable trust in yourself–which is a vital element of success.
3. Successful people think big.
When you think big, you act big, and big things happen. What is the next big idea, project, business that you can think about?
4. Successful people have an unswerving commitment.
Their strong convictions mean they’ll structure everything else in their life around their most important goal, doing whatever it takes to make it happen.
5. Successful people contribute generously.
Successful people make it a habit to bring value to others. To become successful, look for ways to give, not to get.
6. Successful people have tremendous willpower.
They have the strength to see things through without vacillating or procrastinating. When you want it, you make it happen. The world’s greatest achievers are those who have had the willpower to stay focused on their goals and consistent in their efforts.
7. Successful people have patience.
They understand that in everything there are failures and frustrations. To take setbacks personally just slows things down that much more. Their habit of patience is not so much about the ability to wait as knowing how to act while they’re waiting.
8. Successful people are optimistic.
They choose positivity instead of fear. Optimism is an ideal strategy for making a better future–you have to first believe that the future can be better before you can step up and take responsibility for making it so.
9. Successful people are flexible.
They make it a habit of being agile and adaptable. Many of them have become successful doing something different from what they initially started out to do. They know the world is always changing and they refuse to lock themselves into a box.
10. Successful people know their “why.”
Successful people make a habit of knowing why they do what they do–what they’re in it for. They’ve given thought to their reasons and motives, which in turn gives them the courage and the determination to continue.
11. Successful people think long term.
Most people think short term, because they want instant gratification. Successful people know how to set that desire aside and cultivate the habit of thinking in the long term. They plan ahead because they know that lasting success beats momentary gratification.
12. Successful people are strong communicators.
People who can communicate effectively excel in life. Successful people understand that in order to achieve great success, you must first must understand your central message and how best to communicate it.
13. Successful people take risks.
They know you can’t make important gains without important risk. If you take risk out of life, you take opportunity out along with it.
14. Successful people have self-management skills.
In the end, everything boils down to personal relationships and self-management. Successful people make those areas a priority–people skills and personal development.
15. Successful people are resourceful.
They develop networks and cultivate contacts, and they know how to make things work. They know when you have the right people with the right abilities in the right place at the right time, everyone benefits.
16. Successful people take definitive actions.
If there’s one critical thing that separates successful people from the herd, it’s this: successful people take action. They don’t talk about what they’re going to do or think about their intentions. They get up and get it done.
17. Successful people play by their own rules.
They make a point of working harder than everyone else and learning every single detail from scratch. And because they do what most people aren’t willing to do, they get to set the agenda.
18. Successful people think winning thoughts.
They don’t allow any room for negativity or doubt. They may even visualize how success will look and feel. They intuitively understand that once you can think it you can achieve it.
In the end, successful people know the importance of having effective, healthy winning habits, and they work hard on creating, building and cultivating winning habits to make their success a reality.
N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
THE LEADERSHIP GAP
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.