Successful people and unsuccessful people: 7 important differences

We compare the habits and personalities of successful people... and unsuccessful people.

We have all come across people who have something special, people who, no matter what they do, are able to do their best, face challenges and amplify their possibilities, are able to give the best of themselves, face challenges and amplify the possibilities of success in everything they touch. in everything they touch.

Success and failure: concepts that need to be clarified

No matter what profession or sector we are working in, everywhere we can distinguish between people who achieve We can distinguish between people who achieve their goals and those who do not.. Obviously, when we talk about success or failure, it is necessary to clarify that each person has his or her own standards about what defines one or the other concept. From the most purely material issues (job success, good pay, a comfortable life...) to issues related to emotions and the feeling of generativity (degree of subjective happiness, the level of affection for one's work...), all of these constitute essential parts of what we understand by success, at a generic level.

This means that there is a part of success that is clearly visible, while there are other elements, equally or more important, that remain hidden and can only be understood from the subjectivity and the scale of values of each person. In any case, each of us confers a relative importance to these factors.

In search of success: the importance of attitude

As we were saying, however we assess what elements constitute what we understand as success, there are people who come close to this ideal and manage to develop their skills and capabilities, while others are not so lucky. Success, to a large extent, depends on how we approach each day. Attitude, tenacity, determination and the capacity for sacrifice usually make the difference between people who manage to achieve their goals (not only at a professional level, mind you) and those who do not.

It is not the 'what' that is important, but the 'how'. Here we have to highlight, from the outset, a common point among people who manage to be successful. It is not about the talent or ability we possess (which of course also have an influence), but about work ethic, attitude, discipline and the ability to persevere despite the difficulties.

Attracting success

Some people believe that they have no control over their lives, and therefore no control over their personal and professional success. This is a mistake. Success does not come by magic or by a mere matter of luck. If you stop to think about the people you know who have achieved success, you will perceive that all of them possess a series of similar values and habits.. 

It is these habits and beliefs that allow them to thrive and, eventually, find that four-leaf clover that gives a definite boost to their career. Therefore, they are not passive people, but are those who work relentlessly at what they love, until their efforts eventually materialize.

The 7 habits that can help you succeed in life

In this post we are going to reflect on the seven habits that successful people do differently from, let's say, less successful people.. If you are able to incorporate these tips into your personal and work life, you are likely to start heading in the right direction.

Keep in mind that all these skills are trainable and can be improved: no one is born a winner, but it is the circumstances and our mindset that lead us to success or failure.

1. Pursue your passion and dedicate yourself body and soul to it.

If you want to Excel in something, love it. If what you do does not convince you, do not insist: you are not on the right track. Successful people have in common the way they love and are passionate about what they do. When your passion also becomes your livelihood, success is (almost) assured.

2. Leave passivity behind and learn to make your own decisions.

A common trait of people who succeed in achieving their goals is their determination. In addition, not only are they courageous and make decisions autonomously, but they are often quite skillful in doing so.. Great opportunities in life don't come knocking twice, so you have to know how to spot them and get on the winning train. Successful people often get it right.

3. Focus and train yourself

Successful people are true gurus of what they do.. We can not get to know a thousand things at once, it is better to go deep only in the field in which we want to specialize. This does not mean that you should not satisfy your curiosity with everything that makes you curious, but it is important that you are a true expert in the area in which you want to develop your skills.

4. Surround yourself with positive people with clear ideas.

Let's not forget: surrounding yourself with positive people makes you a positive person.. It seems obvious, but it is important to keep it in mind. If we surround ourselves with people who are negative and without ideas, we are also likely to catch that bad attitude. If you live and deal with people who are different from each other but with the common denominator of being restless, active and determined, you can certainly learn a lot from them. In addition, surrounding yourself with friends and colleagues with clear ideas will help you to have enough support to carry out projects. Materializing great ideas into profitable businesses also consists of forming cohesive work teams where each member specializes in a specific aspect. Unity is strength!

5. Trust in your possibilities and in your dreams

It is inevitable to refer to the potential of positive thinking. It is a cliché, but people who are successful in life are able to foresee success long before it happens.. They are a bit visionary. They may not be 100% sure that their project will culminate in a resounding success, but they do not lose hope and keep working day by day. In the end, perseverance and persistence are rewarded.

6. Excellence is not an option, but an obligation.

To be satisfied with a moderately good result is not characteristic of successful people.. If you want to stand out in your industry, you have to surpass the good and achieve excellence. There is no better way to make a name for yourself than to take care of the details and do your best every day. If your work ethic is good but not excellent, consider to what extent this may affect you in the medium and long term. People who achieve excellence are those who put a lot of effort into it, nothing comes by chance.

7. Live a healthy life and have healthy habits

Be careful, not everything in this life is to work hard.. In fact, such a focused attitude is very counterproductive if your goal is to become very good in your field. People who achieve their goals know the crucial importance of recharging batteries and having space for leisure, relaxation and hobbies. We need these moments of peace and quiet so that our mind can restructure all the information and stimuli it receives during the working days. It is therefore necessary that we become aware of how vital it is to eat correctly, go for a walk, do some physical exercise, meditate, read... and even just lie on the couch doing absolutely nothing.

Can you think of any other habits that make a difference?

If you can think of other habits or characteristics of successful people that have not been mentioned in this post, I invite you to leave us your thoughts, I invite you to leave us a comment, just below these lines..