The highly successful have a lot in common. The habits that they keep are some of the most significant factors in their massive success. Want to know what some of those habits are? Look no further! Here are the traits CEOs and industry leaders and all-star creators have ingrained in their days to become highly successful.
1. They Exercise
Charles Soule, a super-prolific writer of comic books and a partner at a law firm, wrote that he solves most of his story problems while going on runs. It’s amazing how simple exercise can open you up to new ideas and huge potential. Follow Soule’s example by getting physically active to solve more problems and reach new levels of success.
2. They Eat Well
Highly successful people do so well because they have the right fuel powering their bodies. For example, Richard Branson has a ritual of eating a fruit salad and muesli, a granola-like dish with high fiber, and he does pretty well! Learn about other highly successful people’s eating habits in this Business Insider article.
3. They Keep Their Brains Busy
Steve Jobs of Apple fame did a few things better than almost anyone else. One of them was always keeping his mind working. The wheels were constantly turning in his head, giving him the opportunity to come up with the many revolutionary ideas he did in his lifetime. Keep your mind busy to have similar success.
4. They Position Themselves As Experts In Their Fields
A ‘thought leader’ is defined as an individual or firm recognized as an authority in a specialized field whose expertise is often sought out and rewarded. The highly successful Michael Hyatt is a perfect example of a thought leader because of the posts he writes about getting the most out of the digital notebook Evernote. Follow his example by making a habit of demonstrating your knowledge about subjects you’re adept in.
5. They Think Long Term
The highly successful know that the present inevitably passes. Jeff Bezos of Amazon.com has run his business for years based on that fact. Amazon sells a lot of products cheaper than any of its competitors because that will attract more buyers and extremely loyal customers. Learn to follow a similarly forward-thinking model in your daily life.
6. They Spend Their Time Doing What They Love
Billionaire entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Mark Cuban worked with computers because that’s where his passion lied. In his own words, “”More importantly no, most importantly I realized that I loved working with PCs. I had never done it before. I didn’t know if this was going to be a job that worked for me, or that I would even like and it turns out I was lucky. I loved what I was doing.” Do something you love and maybe you’ll be rewarded for it.
7. They Keep Their Heads Out Of The Clouds
While it’s good to have big dreams, it’s a bad idea to dwell on them. Another Shark, Kevin O’Leary, recommends setting goals you really believe you can achieve. If you set your heights too high, you’ll never get off the ground.
9. They Maintain Healthy Relationships
Good relationships have the power to help us get through the bad times and make the good times great. To cite a dramatic example, the tight-knit yet wide-reaching relationship Oprah Winfrey has with her audience is awe-inspiring. I’d say she’s highly successful, wouldn’t you? Follow her lead by making sure the relationships in your life are in good places.
8. They Find Out What Works For Them
There’s a lot of research that shows that the daylight is good for you and that mornings are when you’re most productive. However, those statistics don’t hold true for 100% of the population. Brian Michael Bendis, scriptwriter and member of the Marvel Studios braintrust, writes through the night when his kids are asleep, then sleeps while they’re at school. There’s probably no one as prolific and few as highly successful in his field as Bendis. He writes for comics, animated shows, movies and a television show based on his series Powers is going to be the first drama from the PlayStation Network. Mirror his success by not sticking straight to what studies tell you and do what’s best for you.
10. They’re Habitual
Everyone can benefit from more positive habits in their lives, so more important than any one habit on this list is that you become skilled at developing them. Bill Gates reads before bed every night not just because he’s determined to be mentally fit. He does it largely because that’s the habit he’s gotten into because he turned it into a ritual that’s easier to follow then ignore. Get yourself into a zone where you can make habits become second nature to you so that you will become as successful as the people on this list! Good luck.
Featured photo credit: Ontario Chamber of Commerce via flickr.com
