Success is not something you can achieve overnight. It takes hard work, time and absolute dedication.
There are many factors that set successful people apart, including habits, traits and even the very different way they think compared with everyone else. We covered some of the things they have in common in our article “7 things you find in the world’s most successful people“. We also looked at 25 habits they share.
From among all those factors, the author and founder of Likeable Local, Dave Kerpen, has picked what he considers the 15 main differences between people who fail and those who succeed in any area of life.
1. They embrace change vs. They are afraid of change.
Embracing change is one of the hardest things a person can do. With the world moving so fast and changing constantly, we have to accept what comes and adapt, rather than fear it, deny it or hide from it.
2. They want others to succeed vs. They hope others will fail.
When you are in an organisation with a group of people, for you to succeed, everything has to succeed. We have to want our co-workers to succeed and grow. If you want them to fail, then why are you working with them?
3. They radiate joy vs. They are full of anger.
In business and in life, it is always better to be happy and spread your joy to others. It becomes contagious and encourages others to radiate joy too. When people are happier they tend to be more focused and more successful. If a person is full of anger, they put everyone around them in a bad mood and demotivate them, and they achieve little success.
4. They accept their failures vs. They blame others for their failures.
Where there are ups, there are almost always downs. Being a successful leader and entrepreneur means always having to accept responsibility for your failures. Blaming others solves nothing; it only puts other people down.
5. They talk about ideas vs. They criticise people.
Gossip gets you nowhere. Much of it is false, and most of the time it is negative. Instead of gossiping about people, successful people talk about ideas. Sharing ideas with others only makes you better.
6. They share information vs. They hoard information for themselves.
On social media, in business and in life, sharing is important for success. When you share information and data with others, you can get others involved in what you are doing to achieve success. Hoarding data and information is selfish and makes you short-sighted.
7. They give people full credit for their victories vs. They take credit for other people’s work.
Teamwork is the key to success. When working with others, don’t take credit for their success. Let others have their own victories and their moments to shine, because that motivates them and, in the long run, they do their job better and better, which benefits everyone.
8. They set goals and life plans vs. They don’t set goals.
You can’t succeed without knowing where you are going in life. A three-year forecast, an annual strategic plan and a list of daily goals are useful tools for success in life. Develop your own vision and put your goals down on paper.
9. They keep a journal vs. They don’t keep a journal.
Keeping a journal is a great way to jot down quick ideas or thoughts that come to mind and are worth not forgetting. Writing them down can lead to something even bigger. You can use mobile apps or your phone’s notes feature. But don’t fool yourself by saying you keep a journal and then not keeping it up.
10. They read every day vs. They watch TV every day.
Reading every day teaches us about new subjects. Whether you’re reading a blog, your favourite magazine or a good book, you can learn more and more as you read. Watching TV, on the other hand, can be good entertainment or an escape, but you rarely get anything out of it that helps you be more successful.
11. They keep learning vs. They think they already know it all.
Continuously learning and improving is the only way to grow. You can stay a step ahead of the competition and be more flexible because you know more. If you don’t keep learning, you are letting opportunities slip by and you are not growing.
12. They praise others vs. They criticise others.
A compliment gives someone a natural boost of energy, and it is an act of kindness that makes you feel better. Criticising breeds negativity and leads you to nothing good.
13. They forgive others vs. They hold grudges.
Everyone makes mistakes; that’s human. The only way to get past a mistake is to forgive and move on. Living in anger only makes things worse for you.
14. They know what they want to be vs. They don’t know what they want to be.
This is a great way to build strategies for the future. I want to be a doctor, I want to be the CEO of a public company, I want to be a good father and husband, and so on. People who fail have no idea what they want to be. If you don’t know what you want to be, how are you going to succeed? As the saying goes, no wind is favourable for the sailor who doesn’t know where he is heading.
15. They are grateful vs. They don’t appreciate others.
Every single moment of gratitude transforms your life each day and makes you more successful and happier. Make sure you thank everyone who comes into contact with you in your life. Gratitude is the key to success in business and in life.
Further reading
- 4 unconventional steps successful people take in life
- 6 phrases successful people never say
- The keys to success when things get tough
- The 4 most notable differences between how the rich think and how everyone else does
Featured image: David Schwarzenberg, CC0 1.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
