Henry David Thoreau once wrote,
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
When you think about it, how true! Steve Jobs, Oprah Winfrey, Mark Zuckerberg – the list goes on and on. Degree or no college degree, there are many traits that successful people share, including those who self-direct or teach themselves a certain skill or trade. “Unimaginable success” means different things to different people. For you, it may be reaching a certain level of income each year; for someone else, it may be finally realizing a dream of working from home, and being successful at it. Success isn’t always measured in how much money you make!
Regardless, there are many traits or characteristics that successful people have in common, including:
Good planning skills.
Those who are successful understand that they have to plan and build positive habits; success doesn’t come when you’re lackadaisical or have a “whatever will be” attitude. It’s important to plan every aspect of your business, particularly when you work from home, where it can be easy to get caught up in other things.
They take what they do seriously.
Whether a artist, graphic designer, web designer, writer, caterer or even a dog walking service, those who are brave enough to strike out on their own and reach success take what they do seriously, and view it as a business. They don’t let those “doubting Thomases” who think they don’t have a real business because they don’t work in an office or factory stand in their way of success. And by the way, it’s usually your family and closest friends who will try to convince you that you’re going to fail – don’t listen to them if you’re passionate about what you do.
They invest in themselves.
Regardless of what career field you’re in, it’s important to keep learning and stay on top of your industry. Learning new things online, investing in magazines and industry publications, attending workshops or seminars; those who reach success always realize that learning is an ongoing process, that you never know it all.
Wear a limited number of hats.
Savvy business owners know they sometimes cannot do everything, and delegate certain tasks to others. Sure, successful entrepreneurs are usually great multitaskers, but they also know that in order to do their best work and avoid burnout, they have to look out for themselves and their business. They know which aspects of their businesses they’re good at, and what to hand off to others.
Success is not something that happens by accident, or comes to those who wait. Do what you’re passionate about, and work to develop the traits and/or characteristics that those who have reached success before you share. Reaching what YOU consider success is all within your control!
