10 habits of successful people
Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
Wouldn’t you love to know the inside secrets of successful people, what habits do they have that make them so amazing? But what is a successful person? We immediately think about influential or prominent CEOs, celebrities, astronauts, or politicians. But being successful also means being yourself, not following others’ vision of success - because most of these people built their own path - and so can you! Having clear goals, objectives, a purpose, and finding time for what you love is a great way to be successful in the way you want to be.
Of course, these habits can help you get closer to being a successful business (wo)man, a great speaker, or even an outstanding artist. But they can also help you organize and optimize your life to live it better.
We compiled a list of ten habits of successful people that could help you change your life a little, and become more successful. Set your own path, your own rhythm, and get to it. Enjoy!
They get up early and get enough sleep.
Top-quality work can only be achieved by having a good night of sleep before. Starting a healthier sleep pattern can help you increase attention, improve your mood, and therefore results. Sleeping with open curtains is also a mood and energy booster because it allows you to wake up without feeling too tired.
Being an early bird also allows you to have some time before starting your workday to focus on planning and doing something that you like, to get the day started on the right foot. As Benjamin Franklin said: “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.”
They can recommend it
Successful designer Vera Wang and Los Angeles Lakers legend Lebron James both give a lot of importance to a good night’s sleep (from 7 to 9 hours). Sleeping well enhances their productivity, energy, and allows them to produce quality. For them, sleep is also a luxury that they enjoy in order to be fully operational when the morning comes.
They read a lot.
Reading can help you escape from your worries and potential work preoccupations as well as improving brain functions. Make some room in your day to read and relax on the same occasion. From literature to inspiring magazines about your industry, give yourself some time to blow off some steam.
They can recommend it
Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla, grew up reading two books a day. Reading was and still is a way to educate and inspire him.
Bill Gates, the founding father of Microsoft, reads 50 books a year. It sharpens curiosity and allows him to keep learning, because as he says: “You don’t really start getting old until you stop learning”.
They exercise regularly.
To be successful, you need to be mentally and physically in good shape: Mens Sana in corpore Sano. Even taking a walk during phone calls can help you be more productive and be more focused while getting some fresh air. Exercising is also one of the best ways to evacuate stress, so then you’ll be ready to take over the world!
They can recommend it
Oprah Winfrey - founder of The Oprah Winfrey Show and successful businesswoman - goes for walks, hikes, or does some yoga every day. It helps her be mindful and tackle the day more peacefully.
Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, exercises three times a week first thing as he wakes up. He enjoys these relaxing times that give him all the energy he needs for the day. If Oprah and Zuckerberg can do it - so can you. Nobody is too busy to exercise!
They avoid wasting time and spend time away from screens.
Social media can be a real time-waster. Focusing your time and energy on things that get you more satisfaction and purpose is essential. Time away from the digital world is critical for productivity, but general wellness above all. Thinking or just daydreaming can help digest the day and focus on the next things to come. Give yourself the time to relax.
They can recommend it
Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple, was very strict with his and his children’s screen time. He let them enjoy the good sides of technology (connecting with friends, homework) but limited the excesses (less sleep, lack of productivity).
Google CEO Sundar Pichai keeps the TV away from his 12-year-old son. He also refuses to let him have a phone for a few more years and prefers to develop his creativity with books and other activities.
They inform themselves about their industry daily.
Always be on top of your industry! Reading, going to conferences, talking to people, every way is good to inform yourself about your field. You should know the latest trends and have a vision and overview of your industry.
They can recommend it
Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos are two relentless businessmen, that always stay on top of their field by constantly reading about it. It is by following the trends and making informed decisions that Jeff Bezos controls now more than 40% of the USA’s e-commerce. Bill Gates stayed informed about his industry when working at Microsoft, but he now is exploring all the environmental issues connected to his industry such as climate change, by delivering expert books and opinions.
They listen and learn.
Don’t forget that you still have a lot to learn and the best way to be more knowledgeable is to listen to people and to connect with them. But also, the best way to make your company prosper is to listen to customers, employees, and learn from it what you could do better.
They can recommend it
Rihanna - successful singer and businesswoman - believes that you don’t have to stay married to one talent or business, that it’s important to understand what fans want. Passionate about fashion, she listened to the positive feedback of her Puma partnerships and created her fashion brand and lingerie brand, which are now sweeping the fashion industry.
Reed Hastings, co-creator of Netflix listened to what the people wanted, followed the trends, and adapted to the demand. He understood that evolving according to the people’s needs was the key to a successful company.
They stay organized.
The best way to tackle the day is to have a clear sense of what it includes: to-do lists and defined goals are a must to keep things on track. But more than focusing on the day-to-day, staying organized can mean focusing on the bigger picture for your company or your important projects in the months or years to come. By staying organized, you also keep balance in life: work, spend time with your family, exercise, read,...
Creating a routine can seem dull and boring and limiting your freedom, but it is in fact a great way to stay focused, mindful, positive, and productive while allowing you to carve out free time to let your mind wander.
They can recommend it
Marie Kondo - author and TV show host - is all about organizing her space and her life in a meaningful way.
Susan Wojcicki, Youtube’s CEO since 2014, leads the second-largest search engine company in the world, has five children, and still finds time to advocate for women’s rights. Organization is crucial for her so she can have a healthy work-life balance. She makes a point in separating work and her personal life in order to create time for the things that matter to her.
They adapt and overcome.
Sometimes, things can get difficult or can diverge from the initial plan. But being successful means being flexible, adapting, and changing things for them to work even better. Don’t be afraid of change, it could be for the better!
They can recommend it
Netflix started as a DVD rental company, and the two founders adapted their company following the technological and market evolutions. They transformed their company into the most used streaming platform, with more than 109 million subscribers worldwide.
Lego started as wooden bricks and adapted to the market by becoming an unforgettable part of children’s lives with theme parks, movies, and video games. Jørgen Vig Knudstorp, Lego’s CEO at the time of the 2000’s crisis, dynamized the brand by doing partnerships with successful movie series such as Star Wars, Harry Potter, and introducing the brand to social media.
They never give up.
Accept failure as a learning opportunity, and do not fear difficulties, that will keep you away from experiencing new things. Bad days can happen, but better days will come! Rome wasn’t built in one day, so take your time, and take advantage of the setbacks, they can teach you a lot.
They can recommend it
Walt Disney had his first cartoon business go into bankruptcy and also failed in an acting career. Nonetheless, he never gave up, as he had a clear sense of purpose. The Walt Disney name is now an iconic part of children’s and adults' life.
Even Michael Jordan, basketball legend and outstanding businessman, faced many rejections from coaches for being too short, despite his persistent interest in basketball. But he didn’t give up and went on to play 15 seasons in the NBA after persistence and training. However, he did not stop there. He also created his brand and launched Nike’s Air Jordan line. He also became the spokesperson for Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Gatorade, McDonald’s, and more.
They know why
Remember why you are doing this, what are the things that drive you. If you have a purpose that you believe in and a direction, you will find it much easier to keep going despite the obstacles. Your sense of purpose will save you from giving up and will give you a reason to wake up and do your job every day.
They can recommend it
Nike’s CEOs John Donahoe and Mark Parker have a very clear sense of WHY. With their brand, they often take an expert stance on political and social issues (on police brutality for example) that threaten their values: having a positive impact and uniting everyone through sports.
Whitney Wolfe Herd - the world's youngest self-made-woman billionaire - was among the founding team at Tinder but after tensions and sexual assault allegations on other executives - one of whom she had been dating - she left. She experienced a lot of online abuse during this time, and decided to create another app, all about putting women in control: Bumble. Whitney Wolfe Herd has a clear sense of why, she is determined to empower women and change the online dating industry for the best.
Success is what we define it to be. Whether your goal is to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, to be the best mother/father in the world, or to be your own boss, it takes commitment and forming habits. So even if you just start with one of these, go for it and see what happens. Small changes can go a long way!