THE 13 CHARACTERISTICS OF SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE -

By Jeffrey J. Mayer -
SucceedingInBusiness.com

I've spent many years studying successful people and have identified the
skills, talents, and characteristics that enable them to succeed. As you
look at and study these skills, talents, and characteristics, you'll realize
that you possess many of them yourself.


Some of these skills and talents are more dominant than others and will play
a greater part in your being, or becoming, a success in the business of
life. These are the things you do well.


The things you do easily and effortlessly. These are your strengths. When
you find you need a skill or talent you don't have, just go out and look for
a person or group of people with the skills, talents, and training you need.


Skills and talents that complement your own. These people will become your
teammates, colleagues, co-workers, professional advisors, and friends. With
these combined skills and talents organizations grow, prosper, and become
successful.


These are the five things you'll find every successful person has in common :-


1. They have a dream.


2. They have a plan.


3. They have specific knowledge or training.


4. They're willing to work hard.


5. They don't take no for an answer.


Remember: Success begins with a state of mind. You must believe you'll be
successful in order to become a success.


The following is a list of the skills, talents, and characteristics you'll
find in successful people: -


1. Successful People Have a Dream.


They have a well-defined purpose. They have a definite goal. They know what
they want. They aren't easily influenced by the thoughts and opinions of
others.


They have willpower. They have ideas. Their strong desire brings strong
results. They go out and do things that others say can't be done.


Remember: It only takes one sound idea to achieve success.


Remember: People who excel in life are those who produce results, not
excuses. Anybody can come up with excuses and explanations for why he hasn't
made it. Those who want to succeed badly enough don't make excuses.


2. Successful People Have Ambition.


They want to accomplish something. They have enthusiasm, commitment, and
pride. They have self-discipline. They're willing to work hard and to go the
extra mile. They have a burning desire to succeed. They're willing to do
whatever it takes to get the job done.


Remember: With hard work come results. The joy in life comes with working
for and achieving something.


3. Successful People Are Strongly Motivated Toward Achievement.


They take great satisfaction in accomplishing a task.


4. Successful People Are Focused.


They concentrate on their main goals and objectives. They don't get
sidetracked. They don't procrastinate. They work on the projects that are
important, and don't allow those projects to sit until the last minute.
They're productive, not just busy.


5. Successful People Learn How to Get Things Done.


They use their skills, talents, energies, and knowledge to the fullest
extent possible. They do the things that need to be done, not just the
things they like to do.


They are willing to work hard and to commit themselves to getting the job
done.


Remember: Happiness is found in doing and accomplishing, not in owning and
possessing. Many years ago I was asked: "Jeff, do you like pleasing habits
or pleasing results?" As I pondered that probing question, and squirmed in
my chair like a worm at the end of a hook, I felt as if I had painted myself
into a corner. A few moments later I answered: "I like pleasing results."
From that moment on my life changed. I began to do the things that were
difficult, because they enabled me to achieve my goals.


6. Successful People Take Responsibility for Their Actions.


They don't make excuses. They don't blame others. They don't whine and
complain.


7. Successful People Look for Solutions to Problems.


They're opportunity minded. When they see opportunities they take advantage
of them.


8. Successful People Make Decisions.


They think about the issues and relevant facts, give them adequate
deliberation and consideration, and make a decision. Decisions aren't put
off or delayed, they're made now!


Success Tip: Spend more time thinking and planning before you make your
decision, and you'll make better decisions.


Success Tip: When you don't get the expected results from the decision
you've made, change your course of action. Decisions should never be carved
in stone.


9. Successful People Have the Courage to Admit They've Made a Mistake.


When you make a mistake, admit it, fix it, and move on. Don't waste a lot of
time, energy, money, and/or other resources trying to defend a mistake or a
bad decision.


Remember: When people are wrong, they may admit it to themselves. If they
are handled gently and tactfully, they may admit it to others and even take
pride in their frankness and broad-mindedness. But people become very
defensive and angry when others try to cram their mistakes down their
throats. If you want to learn how to overcome the fear of failure, overcome
the procrastination habit, and become more successful by writing and
reviewing your goals, you should


10. Successful People Are Self-Reliant.


They have the skills, talents, and training that are needed in order to be
successful. Your thoughts, comments & opinions are appreciated.


11. Successful People Have Specific Knowledge, Training, and/or Skills and Talents.


They know the things they need to know to be successful. And when they need
information, knowledge, or skills and talents that they don't possess, they
find someone who does possess them.


12. Successful People Work with and Cooperate with Other People.


They have positive, outgoing personalities. They surround themselves with
people who offer them help, support, and encouragement. They are leaders.


13. Successful People Are Enthusiastic.


They're excited by what they're doing, and that excitement is contagious.
They draw people to them because these people want to work with them, do
business with them, and be with them.