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I’ve been observing the traits and habits of people I would consider successful. Not only with finances (that goes without saying here) but with life in general. Here are some traits I’ve noticed:
What are some traits or habits that you have, or that you have noticed.
Thanks for all the responses. What a great group.I think integrity and creativity are two I would add to my list.
I think your list highlights the key habits really well. One more trait I often notice is consistency, where small daily actions compound into long-term success. Planning ahead also plays a big role, not just in finances or health but in everyday details, even things like using trusted options for smooth travel. Along with that, gratitude and adaptability seem to help people maintain balance and keep moving forward when life gets unpredictable.
good call….I also feel that the habit of consistency is a key fundamental.
I suggest the following traits (thinking about how I would advise my daughter in her career) some are duplicates from other comments below:
Fortune (Luck) favors the brave + the altruistic + the grateful.
Be a BAG (brave, altruistic, grateful).
If you are a bag, then thank your lucky stars.
I do #1, #2, #4, #5 and #6.
I’ve always been an early morning person–I have no problem getting up at 4am these days. Daily routines around our house are essential–both the dogs and humans prefer less chaos and more order.
I would add to the list that I’ve always had attention to detail (to a fault). That one trait made me successful at the various jobs I held throughout my working years. It also makes me a successful dog trainer because it helps me be able to read dog behavior at a level the average person just can’t do.
Kristine, I just spent the afternoon with a close friend who, at age 75, resides in assisted living with Parkinson’s Disease. He is able to share his room with his European Boxer pup, Faye. Faye is one of the coolest dogs I have ever known. My friend’s situation would be far worse without that pooch.
So I submit that your dogs count for a healthy social/family life, and you can add #3 to the things you do.
I love the story about your friend. I see many people in our retirement community who get a lot of companionship from their dogs. It breaks my heart to hear of someone who has to be moved to an assisted living facility that doesn’t allow dogs.
Thanks for the perspective on list item #3. My dogs are my companions and, because of them, they bring me in contact with people I likely would never meet or socialize with if I were left to do so alone.
Many years ago, we were working on a project that just seemed to hit obstacle after obstacle. Once complete, I emailed the project team (including our client) thanking them for their patience. Our client, a guy with lots of experience, who I always regarded as very wise and thoughtful, responded that he believed that there was only one true predictor of success. Not education, nor socio-economic background, nor any other measures you might put on a CV.
He firmly believed that persistence, gritting your teeth and hanging in there until the end, was the only differentiator between success and not.
I don’t know if that’s true, but it always stuck with me.
I’d add “Learn to effectively prioritize tasks” and “Take on certain tasks at the time of the day when mental prowess is peak.” For some of us, this occurs in the morning and for others it is not. I’m usually most productive in the morning and my efficiency falls off later in the day. However, when I attended night school I burned the candle at both ends. Ditto for when I began my business; it was a “side hustle” 55 years before anyone called it that.
My tax business was a one man operation. Once I got busy I didn’t have any time to waste. I’d go shopping for supplies in early January. Five cases of paper, 700 file folders, plenty of Avery labels, staples, paper clips, you name it. I’d make sure all the software was installed and working as it should. Postage meter, label maker, scanner, printers, all these things had to be ready early. Once clients came in, they became my top priority and focus until April 15.
I enjoyed your article, Brian. My only quibble is “get up early”. I do think most people function better if they have a routine with consistent awakening and bedtimes, with sufficient time allocated to sleep. Whatever those wake up and bedtimes may be are irrelevant, but some may be compelled to conform with the schedule their employer demands.
This is not an answer to your question, but I believe it is relevant. To paraphrase Buffett: When considering whom to hire to run one of Berkshire’s many wholly owned businesses, he looks at three traits: Integrity, intelligence and energy. In that order. Because if that person lacks integrity but possess the other two, that can lead to significant damage. Elsewhere, he stated he never looks at what college or university the candidate attended prior to making his decision.
I think this thought process is also applicable to other decision making, such as…whom to vote for, for instance.
Great list Brian. I would add gratitude…
So neither I, nor any other night owl, can be successful? This obsession with getting up early is one of those American peculiarities to which I do not subscribe. I was horrified when I came to the US, and discovered that the company that was happy with me arriving at work at 9:00 in the UK, expected me to show up at 7:35 in the US. These days my alarm goes off at 8:00, and I usually hit snooze.
Some people do their best work in the morning, others do not.
to your point, but upon a google search it seems that Warren Buffett awakes at 6:45 or so, seeking to get 8 hrs of sleep.
I think the “get up early” thing is one of those self perpetuating myths. One that doesn’t reflect the variability in personal body clocks. It becomes easier to attach a halo to other early birds if you’re an early bird.
I’d agree it isn’t about when one gets up. It is about what one does once they are up. How long does it take to get moving and begin working? Some people are able to begin working 15 minutes upon waking. Others are drowsy for a period of time. We are all different. At the end of the day I’d guess what matters is how many hours in that day were we truly effective.
My schedule was 8:00 to 4:42, possibly at the same employer.
I gave up on any alarm years before I retired, but these days I still wake up and get up between 5 and 6 AM. It’s automatic and I can’t get out of the habit.
I’m the same way. I got up between 5:30-6:00 AM for 40-some-odd years. After being retired for 5 years, I still wake up (without an alarm clock) around the same time, plus-or-minus 30 minutes. I seem to be slowly moving to a 6:30 wakeup time, but it’s not consistent, and I only rarely sleep beyond that.
Alarm? Oh, yes, I vaguely remember what that was…
They have a proactive commitment to lifelong learning and continually raise the bar. They demonstrate a natural curiosity and eagerness to learn.
They view setbacks not as failures but as opportunities to learn and grow, using each experience as a stepping stone toward success.
They don’t blame others, they don’t give up, they know how to move on and they never use the words “that’s not my job” of “we’ve always done it that way.”
They don’t undermine or stab other people in the back.
I got my first break in middle management because the manager of my department argued with the Chairman one too many times that change was not right because we always did it the current way.
One year while on vacation I got a call telling me he had “decided” to retire.
Personality traits most often linked with achievement are creativity, passion, persistence, adaptability. These traits are usually overlooked until success is recognized. Society is better served by valuing and cultivating these traits instead of idolizing superficial habits or celebrity behaviors. Consider junior doctors, lawyers, investment bankers, entrepreneurs, their achievements depend on long years of abnormal life routines and habits.
Eccentric traits, exhibited by introverts for example, should not be viewed as undesirable. Without these eccentric contributors, we would have lost the World War II, and may not see many advances that shaped our modern life.
Brian, I’m not the sharpest tool in the shed, but have achieved some level of success. I treat everyone with respect. If I make a mistake, I take ownership and make things right, even if it costs me a few bucks. In my office, I was very organized/efficient. I returned phone calls promptly. I showed up.
The fellow that bought my business once said “this isn’t Dan’s Tax Prep, it’s more like Dan’s Fan Club”. I took that as a high compliment.