50 Habits of Highly Successful People You Should Learn

Leon HoFounder & CEO of Lifehack Read full profile

If you’re like me and really into self-development, you’ve probably read many of the thousands of self-help books out there on the market. But also like me, you probably find all the information a bit overwhelming.

That’s why I wanted to do the self-less task of taking the most important, life-changing lessons I’ve drawn from these books and condensed them into fifty key points.

Here’re 50 habits of highly successful people you should learn:

1. You have to believe it to see it

Our minds tend to focus on what’s happening around us and refuse to see what could happen. Only when you trust in what’s possible and dare to dream big, big things can happen for you.

2. Problems are actually a wonderful gift

While others only see problems and give up, successful people use the problem as a lesson to find improvement in themselves or the task at hand.

3. Solutions are all they’re looking for

Even if they’re knee-deep in problems, successful people will still put all of their focus on finding solutions.

4. It’s all about the journey

Successful people are conscious and methodical in creating their own success. They don’t sit around doing the bare minimum, hoping success finds them.

5. Feel the fear and do it anyway

There’s so much fear on the road to success, but instead of letting that fear control and limit them, successful people do a good job of just forging ahead regardless.

6. The magic of productive questions

It’s all about asking the right questions. Successful people make sure they are questions that will elicit information for a more productive, creative and positive mindset moving forward.

7. The best waste of energy is complaining

Successful people know that choosing to see the negative side of things will only create a useless and unproductive state.

8. Don’t play the blame game

Taking responsibility for actions and outcomes is a form of empowerment that you can build your success upon. While the act of blaming others or outside circumstances takes this empowerment away from you.

9. Maximize their strengths

Not every successful person is simply more talented than the rest, but they do use what they know they’re good at to achieve more successful results.

10. You’ve got to be in it to win it

Successful people are busy, productive and proactive. Instead of sitting around over-thinking and over-planning a great idea, they just take a step towards it no matter how small.

11. Success attracts success

People who are successful surround themselves and seek out like-minded people. They understand the importance of being part of a team and forge win-win relationships.

12. Actually choosing to be successful

Dreaming big is a massive part of being successful even if your dream seems impossible. Ambition is a mindset that needs to be a daily conscious choice.

13. Visualize, visualize, visualize!

You’ve got to see your success in your mind’s eye even before it comes. Successful people clarify and get that certainty about what they want their reality to look like rather than being mere spectators of life.

14. Be a one-off original

Successful people look for what’s working and then create a unique spin on it. Imitating only regurgitates other people’s ideas with no originality.

15. The perfect time to act is NOW

Waiting for the right time to act is basically procrastination wrapped up in an excuse. Successful people know there’s never a perfect time so they may as well just do it now.

16. Learning is growing

Continuous learning is the key to a successful life. Whether it’s academic, being a student of life or actionable learning, it’s all about expanding your knowledge and personal development.

17. Always look on the bright side of life

Successful people have the knack for finding positive aspects in all people and circumstances no matter what.

18. Having a bad day? Do it anyway!

We all have bad moods but it shouldn’t be an excuse to stop everything. Giving into a bad mood just stop-starts your life, slowing success way down.

19. Sometimes risky business is needed

Calculated risks are a must for success. It’s about weighing the pros and cons while moving forward with that element of trust.

20. Challenge accepted!

Dealing with problems head-on is a must to be successful. Successful people also face challenges in order to improve themselves.

21. Making their own luck

In the mindset of a successful person, there’s no such thing as ‘luck’ or ‘fate’. They take control to actively and consciously create their own best life.

22. Ignite their initiative

While many people are reactive, successful people are proactive – taking action before they have to.

23. Emotional managers

Being effective at managing emotions is key on the road to success. That’s not to say successful people don’t feel like we all do, but they’re just not slaves to their emotions.

24. Communication champions

Consciously working on effective communication skills gets anyone closer to success.

25. Strategic life planners

Successful people’s lives aren’t a clumsy series of unplanned events and outcomes, they methodically work at turning their plans into a reality.

26. Becoming exceptional at what they do

To become exceptional, you typically have to do things that most won’t. To become successful, hard decisions need to be made and acting on them is crucial.

27. Choosing to live outside comfort zones

While many people are pleasure junkies and avoid pain and discomfort at all costs, successful people understand the value and benefits of working through the tough stuff that most would avoid.

28. Living by core values

Successful people firstly identify their core values and what’s important to them, then do their best to live a life that reflects these values.

29. Realizing money isn’t everything

Money and success are not interchangeable and the most successful people understand this. Putting money on a pedestal and equating it to success is a dangerous mindset to have. Success comes in many forms.

30. Don’t get carried away

Successful people understand the importance of discipline and self-control and as a result they are happy to take the road less travelled.

31. Self-worth is not tied to success

Successful people are secure. They do not derive their self-worth from what they own, who they know, where they live or what they look like.

32. Kindness breeds kindness (and success)

Generosity and kindness is a common trait among long-term successful people. It’s important to take pleasure in helping others achieve.

33. More humility, less arrogance

Successful people are humble and happy to admit and apologize for mistakes. This is because they’re confident in their ability. They are happy to learn from others and happy to make others look good rather than seek their own personal glory.

34. Change opens new doors

People who are successful are adaptable and embrace change, while the majority are creatures of comfort and habit. They are comfortable with, and embrace, the new and the unfamiliar.

35. A healthy body for success

It’s not just how you think, it’s about how you show up for success. Successful people understand the importance of being physically well, not for vain reasons but because being in tiptop condition creates a better personal life for success.

36. Laziness just doesn’t exist

Successful people are never considered lazy. Yes, they can relax when they need to, but working hard is their game.

37. Resilience by the bucket load

When difficulty strikes, most would throw in the towel, but successful people are just warming up.

38. Feedback is just another chance to improve

How people react to feedback determines their potential for success. Being open to constructive criticism and acting on it to improve is most seen in those who are successful.

39. Your vibe attracts your tribe

If people are hanging out with toxic and negative people, then they need to take a look at themselves. Successful people hang out with others who are positive and supportive.

40. Can’t control it? Forget it

Successful people don’t invest time or emotional energy into things which they have no control of.

41. Swimming against the tide

Successful people are not people-pleasers and they don’t need constant approval from others in order to move ahead.

42. Alone time is valuable time

More self-worth means being more comfortable with your own company. Successful people are more happy and see the value in spending time alone.

43. Self-standard is higher than most

Everyone has a choice to set high standards for themselves. Successful people do this, which in turn produces greater commitment, more momentum, a better work ethic and of course, better results.

44. Failure isn’t rationalized

While many use age, health, lack of time, ‘bad luck’, or lack of opportunity to explain away their failure, the key to success is finding a way to succeed despite facing these challenges.

45. Down time is an important part of a routine

Having an off switch and taking time to do things that make them happy is a common trait of a successful person.

46. Career isn’t who they are, it’s what they do

Successful people know their career isn’t their identity. They are multi-dimensional and don’t define themselves by their job.

47. They aren’t interested in the path of least resistance

While most people look for the easiest way or the shortcut, successful people are more interested in the most effective way. They look for the course of action which will produce the best results over the long term.

48. They follow through

Many spend their life starting things that they never finish, but successful people get the job done. Even when the excitement and the novelty has worn off they still follow through and finish.

49. They invest in all their dimensions

We’re not just physical and psychological beings, but emotional and spiritual creatures as well. Successful people consciously work at being healthy and productive on all levels.

50. They put their money where their mouth is

To obtain success, it’s important to practice what you preach. Successful people don’t talk about the theory, they live the reality.

So there you have it, a summary of what I’ve learned from self-help books. But of course, you need to start taking actions so you will get closer to success too.

If you want to learn more about each of the above habits, you can always check out the books:

• The 25 Best Self Improvement Books To Read
• 35 Books on Productivity and Organizational Skills for an Effective Life

16 Killer Techniques to Help You Transform Your Attitude for Success

D'Vaughn Bell

Executive consultant, Philanthropist, Entrepreneur Read full profile

Do you constantly think about living your dream? Everyone faces doubt or negativity at some point. It’s important to remember that your attitude is the difference maker in determining whether your dreams become a success or failure.

Zig Ziglar once said,

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.”

Your mindset impacts everything you do and may even hold limitations on what you can do. When you have a negative attitude, you will subconsciously manifest or spread negativity into your way of thinking, your work and even the people closest to you.

On the other hand, having the right attitude for success will make you more receptive to new ideas, think of better ways to overcome challenges and you will start noticing more new opportunities.

From personal development tips to productivity, how are you supposed to know which techniques you should apply and which will lead you down the path of success?

There are countless tips available but these 16 methods will keep you positive no matter what challenge you face and help you create the right attitude for success.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. 16 Promising ways to change your attitude
2. The 90-day attitude transformation challenge
3. Final thoughts

16 Promising ways to change your attitude

Fighting negativity doesn’t have to be as boring or as complicated as many people think.

1. Take a vacation!

There are hidden advantages to taking a vacation and a huge correlation between holiday and success.

• Increased productivity: You will be more productive if you take vacations, it’s been proven time and time again. Restoration is rooted in our physiology, humans are not meant to spend energy continuously.
• Newer perspectives: Stay away from work for a while and do something enjoyable. When you go back to work, you will have a whole new outlook on life.
• Increased mental strength: Working non-stop and getting things done may make you think you are on top of the world. But your mind feels something else entirely. A study by the University of California’s Gregory Hickock University found that our brains do not have reservoirs to collect energy and power. Vacations can help reset your mind.
• Improving mental health: The US News and World Report have spoken with experts who have indicated that one of the main benefits of a vacation is that it can improve your mental health.[1] Confidence of calm and ease relieve stress, which allows the body and mind to heal in ways that it cannot if it was still under pressure.

Burning yourself out is not an effective use of your time and is quite detrimental to your success. Take some time to clear your mind. If it is not vacation at least plan a break.

2. Study the habits of successful people.

Daily habits are a key to success. People have zero control over the world politics, weather, and similar circumstances.

But we control ourselves and our habits, rituals, and routine. And, while we all can learn successful habits, it is meaningless if we do not apply this knowledge.

Find everyday habits of very successful people that fall within your wheelhouse and those habits you can adopt more easily to create the life you really want to live.

You don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Just do what the wheel-maker does. Observe and imitate the time management experts around you.

3. Make a daily list.

All successful individuals must train themselves to work out a daily to-do list. Think of how important it is for a pilot to use a checklist before each takeoff. That is how effective and successful people should be as well.

Take a few minutes to create a “to do” list to use to get through the day.

The best time to make the list is the night before. By doing this, your subconscious begins to work on your list as you sleep. This way, when you wake up each morning, you can have amazing insights and ideas which will assist you in achieving some of the most important goals on your list.

At the end of each day, the last thing you do should be to plan out the next day. Making a list helps you organize priorities and keeps you on track throughout the day.

4. Eliminate needless interruptions.

You have to understand that each of us has the same 24 hours a day as Mark Cuban, Bill Gates, Will Smith, Oprah, Richard Branson and Henry Ford. It’s how we manage ourselves within a time frame that makes all the difference.

Start eliminating unnecessary distractions during the day. Research has shown that it can take our brains up to 20 minutes to recover from one single interruption.

So, let’s say you are faced with only three unnecessary distractions every day, you lose an hour of productivity. This can add up to six 40-hour weeks, that’s 240 hours per year. Or better yet, if you bill by the hour, at even $50 per hour, that is $12,000 lost revenue.

Close the office door. Post a sign that says, “conference” if you need to. Let your secretary, voicemail, or answering machine record your messages, then return calls at once.

Designate times to check email.

Start taking control of your time, your calendar, and your life right now with this one tip. Learn how to remove distractions from life:

10 Critical Tips to Prevent Distraction and Sharpen Your Focus

5. Organize and prioritize.

Organize living and workspaces. Don’t let clutter accumulate. Clean as you go. Unorganized space is not only ineffective and counterproductive, it is psychologically exhausting. Select one area to organize each day for 30 days. Start in the space where you spend most of your work time. If you have an area that bothers you the most, start there instead.

Prioritize. Complete one task before starting to do something else or stopping at least a natural stopping point. Try to bring closure to tasks, or “trim” large tasks into smaller components so that you work on it a little bit at a time while ensuring they always progress. Find out more about how to prioritize here:

How to Prioritize Right in 10 Minutes and Work 10X Faster

Developing keen organizational skills eliminates unnecessary ineffectiveness and enables individuals to efficiently achieve their goals. So, attack the beast one of two ways.

Either bag up everything out of place in each area. Then empty each bag/box/bin one at a time and put things away. Or, if the idea of an organization overwhelms you, hire a professional to do it for you.

6. Surround yourself with positivity.

It is important to continue feeding your brain with happy, loving memories.

Recreate those moments that once smiled at you. Remember the times of happiness such as something that encourages you, a birthday party, an outing with friends, a special holiday or your favorite songs.

While you are learning to change your mindset, music can help speed up the process. The effects and benefits of music on the brain are many and are not confined to a single genre, as long as they match your musical preferences. In this way, it is the connection of the brain to familiar and valued music, which is the key.

Experts recommend different genres for different purposes. Optimistic music, for example, includes songs with positive words, can provide energy boosts and get your mind primed for learning. While instrumental music and relaxing genres can help you stay calm and focused.

Ambient music, according to a study from the University of Chicago increases abstract brain processes, which are responsible for creative thinking.

Studies from the Department of Psychology at the University of London have found that listening to happy music can make us see the faces of people in a positive light – even if they wear an empty expression. So, throw on some headphones, get in front of the mirror and have at it.

Music has an active influence on your mind. Understanding how music and your brain interact, and how to tune your music consumption to maximum impact, can affect how you feel, think, learn, and you achieve success.

7. Get rid of negative people.

Keep naysayers and negative people out of your life

as much as possible. You need all the happiness and love you can surround yourself with if you want to constantly focus and work towards your dreams. Remember you’re creating the opportunity to achieve a dream, not a nightmare.

First, remember that “like attracts like” – this is universal law. To have positive experiences, you need to have a positive opinion of yourself, evaluate then appreciate the lessons learned from life experiences and your current situations. When you are in a positive mood, you will attract positivity.

Embrace relationships that empower, excite and motivate you to be your best, and do the same for others in return. Stay surrounded with positive people who believe in your dreams and cheer you up. The longer you stay focused and positive, the more positive people you will have in your life.

Part of having a positive opinion of yourself is believing in yourself. People can feel whether you believe in yourself or not. When you do not believe in yourself, then you will find that you attract others who are struggling with believing in themselves too.

Recognize your strengths, gifts and talents, physical beauty and features. Be nice to yourself daily by positive self-talk. When you believe in yourself, you will respect your truth which will attract optimistic people to you.

It is very rewarding to be surrounded by positive people; understand it takes time to practice how to be consciously aware of your thoughts and change them from negative to positive.

When negative thoughts come to mind just let them go and exchange them with self-affirmative, positive thoughts that support your goals.

8. Listen to teaching tapes in the car.

Instead of being stressed out by traffic, and frustrated by the radio, you can engage your brain, learn another language, improve your sales, business, and management skills, and master the latest strategies for success by listening to tapes during drive time.

Spotify and Amazon have thousands of audios that you can listen to whether you need to buy the actual disk or listen through Bluetooth.

9. Utilize waiting time.

Waiting time can drive us crazy. Instead, think of this time as an opportunity to be used to your advantage. When you look at your daily to-do list, identify places that you are likely to wait and start productively using the time.

One of the worst traps in falling victim to waiting is the trap of not thinking. We want time to go as fast as we can, so we allow ourselves to sink into an uncomfortable brain fog, convincing ourselves it’s a much-needed break. Do not let that happen it does not make waiting time any better. Keep yourself busy and stimulated, even if it means looking out a window or finally replying to those emails.

Always keep a book that you want to read in your car or desk so you can make use of the time you spend waiting for those meetings. Recognize the waiting time is no different from another available time. We all have to use time productively, so that the time waiting is not wasted.

10. Eat for positivity.

Eating is not just the thing we do when we are hungry. Eating is an experience tied strongly to the emotional circuits in the brain.

There is an emotional association of food that is further compounded by memories summoned by the smell, texture and look of a visually pleasing meal. This holds a strong correlation over your attitude and the food you eat:

• Create good memories with good food. Your busy schedule may not allow you to sit and enjoy each meal every day. But no matter the amount of time you have, maintain your focus on your meal using all senses, it is key to your well-being and the emotional association of food.
• Focus on ‘how’ and ‘what’ you eat. Eat a variety of wholesome, nutritious foods and resist the temptation to overeat. One type of food you should begin incorporating more of are superfoods. Compared to regular vegetables they are much richer in vitamins and nutrients but don’t hold many calories. Superfoods replenish and enrich the body and mind on a very deep level.

Also, try to add these 5 superfoods to your next grocery list:

1. Maca – known to greatly reduce stress, balance hormone levels, and provide you with a substantial amount of energy and endurance.
2. Acai – increases cognitive and brain function, improves cholesterol and fights off harmful toxins.
3. Organic coconut water – keeps you hydrated and youthful. Also has natural antiviral properties.
4. Chia seeds – are a great way to detoxify and cleanse by removing all the toxins and impurities from your body.
5. Goji berries – work to enhance your vision and immune system keeping you alert and focused.

There are many more superfoods to try, many people are using them for their health and mental benefits. They work wonders to enhance your mood and energy levels.

Your attitude also plays an important role in the adoption and maintenance of a variety of health habits including your diet.

You can’t just go through the motions of eating healthier, you have to embrace it.

11. Make time for exercise.

Improve your health and you improve your life, extend your life, and can accomplish more with less fatigue. Research continues to show that making time for exercise delivers serious health and mental benefits.

Whether it’s a quick pick-up game of basketball, a group training class at the gym, or even just a run with a friend, exercise won’t happen in a bubble.

At the same time, you don’t need to train like a bodybuilder or athlete. Dedicating just 30 minutes a day, three days out of the week is enough to start gaining the mental benefits of exercise:

• Reduce stress and anxiety
• Increase happiness
• Improve self-confidence
• Boost brainpower, sharpen memory and prevent cognitive decline
• Tap into creativity

Exercise also doesn’t have to be spent running in place on a treadmill or going to the gym, it can be spent walking by the lake, gardening, riding a bike along the beach, carrying groceries, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and dancing among many other ways.

Decide which activities are fun and will suit you best and plan them throughout your week.

12. Use positive words and affirmations.

Our subconscious plays a central role in the realization of our lives and the expression of our desires. What we believe about ourselves at the subconscious level, can have a significant impact on the outcome of events.

People use these positive affirming statements for a variety of purposes. In general, the intent behind affirmation statements is to rewrite and reprogram the subconscious, to encourage us to believe in certain things about ourselves or the world around us.

They are also used to help us create the reality we want – often in terms of attracting success, love, wealth, health and happiness.

Affirmations can be used as inspiration as well as simple reminders. They can also focus attention on goals throughout the day, which, by itself has the potential to promote positive and lasting positive change.

Once you have come up with a set of affirmations, to be effective, make sure you use them daily – at the very least.

13. Avoid people who drain you.

It is good to spend time with people, but there are certain people who actually suck your life straight from you. They exhaust you. Identify these people in your life and limit your exposure to them.

Our energy comes in limited quantities and it grows or is reduced based on what you do and who you are surrounded by. Understanding how people influence you means you can do a better job matching your needs at any given moment to what your energy requires.

How do you say “no” to energy zappers? Just say NO!

Energy Zappers are people who may be stuck in a problem you’ve heard for years and years. Their situation and complaints are the same, over and over, and they bring nothing new to the table.

They aren’t bad people but you are tired just at the thought of dealing with them. Whether it’s a co-worker or friend, avoid this person.

If avoidance is not possible, make sure you are not in a state of resistance when around them. Remember, what we oppose sticks.

If you feel uncomfortable around a particular person or group, do not go into resistance mode as a way to protect yourself. This only keeps the bad energy stuck in your space.

Find your happy space and remove yourself from the uncomfortable environment as soon as possible. This way, if someone throws some negative juju to you, it will pass right through.

14. Improve your social skills.

On the other hand, building relationships with others greatly reduces stress and anxiety in your life.

Research conducted by the University of California, Santa Barbara economist Catherine Weinberger, shows many successful people excel in both social skills and cognitive abilities.[2] This is something that has not always been true.

She collapsed data linking adolescence skills in 1972 and 1992 with older results and found that in 1980, both skills did not mean better success, and yet today the combination does so. “People who are both smart and socially skilled are earning more in today’s workforce than similar workers in 1980,” she says.

15. Schedule more time for yourself and family.

Those who work harder on the job than they do on themselves tend to burn out. Remember what you are working for!

Schedule time with your spouse and children. Pencil in some time for yourself while you’re at it.

16. Learn to say NO.

Contrary to popular opinion, positivity is not and cannot be destroyed by the word “no.” You’re not a superhuman. Your energy has limits and so does your ability to produce more of it.

Taking on an endless list of tasks is not a step in the right direction. Say no to low priority items. Don’t be afraid to tell someone, “I’ve already committed myself to another project that will take up all my spare time, thank you for thinking about me.”

Affirmations that you can begin

Here are some affirmations that you can begin using right away:

Tоdау, I аm brіmmіng wіth еnеrgу and overflowing with jоу.I аm thе аrсhіtесt оf mу lіfе; I buіld іtѕ fоundаtіоn аnd сhооѕе іtѕ соntеntѕ.I forgive those who hаvе hаrmеd mе іn mу раѕt аnd реасеfullу dеtасh frоm thеm.Today, I аbаndоn mу оld hаbіtѕ аnd take up nеw роѕіtіvе оnеѕ.Mу аbіlіtу tо соnquеr mу сhаllеngеѕ іѕ lіmіtlеѕѕ; mу роtеntіаl tо succeed іѕ іnfіnіtе.