Some characteristics of successful people

As I work with CEOs and run my own business it is really interesting to look at the qualities that make business and people successful. In my last blog I wrote about businesses so I thought I would look at the personal side of success this week!

At griffin+row we do not employ people, my business partner and I project manage and contract to a number of companies to do various parts of our business. This gives me a great opportunity to look at successful people and see what sets them apart!

So here are a few of my thoughts about some of the qualities that make people successful:

• They are reliable. They do what they say they will do, when they say they will do it.
• They set clear priorities and act on them. Remember the Steven Covey urgent/important model? Some people are always caught up in the urgent – and not the important. Successful people get this right.
• They communicate clearly – their words count!
• They take calculated risks.
• They have a sense of urgency about getting (important) things done.
• They focus on their customers needs and wants-not just the great ideas they might have. They let people around them know they are valued and what the value of their activity is. In other words, they have people around them who understand the importance of their contribution.
• They work in a sustainable manner, consistently getting things done, not doing things at the last minute which creates chaos and leads to errors.
• They work to keep themselves fit and healthy.
• They have a sense of humour. They take their work seriously but not themselves, they keep their ego under control.
• They keep a clear focus – but are open to new ideas
• They are not afraid of change – but demand that change is for the better!
• They have a healthy level of daily activity, but are not in constant overload.

The great thing about life and business is that we can always improve, we can always learn and grow, there are so many great models of successful people and they are not just the leaders of businesses, they may be the great people who work for them, who do their job well and live happy lives.

Success, as it is said, is a journey not a destination.

To read more Marcia Griffin expert advice, click here.

Marcia’s latest book, High Heeled Success (pictured left), and is a frank account of building a business from a solitary sales person to a multi-million dollar business with 4700 sales consultants around Australia and New Zealand. Contact Marcia to purchase. Marcia’s latest venture is skin care company griffin+row.