“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”
– Michael Jordan
Success – many people strive for it, few people achieve it. Have you ever wondered what sets successful people apart from everyone else? You’re about to find out. What better way than to learn from a successful person themselves? No, I’m not talking about me.
You may know Scott McGillivray as the host of HGTV’s Income Property, but he’s also a successful real estate investors. Scott didn’t build his real estate empire overnight – it took years of hard work, sacrifice and dedication. I had the pleasure of meeting Scott at his Wealth Tour where he shared his four characteristics of successful people.
1. Set Goals
Successful people set SMART goals. SMART is an acronym for goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. I’m a big fan of goal-setting – it’s helped me achieve a net worth of over $500K by age 29. Successful people take goal-setting a step further and set stretch goals. I’ve set the stretch goal of being mortgage-free and achieving financial independence by age 31, and achieving a net worth of $1 million by age 35. By setting goals, it gives you a sense of purpose. You’ll feel motivated each morning when you wake up.
2. Plan Your Future and Act on It Immediately
Goal setting doesn’t end there. You have to put plans into action to make your dreams a reality. How many time have you heard somebody start a sentence with “I’d like to…” Whether it’s starting a business, buying a rental property, or changing careers; it’s not enough just to want something, you have to act on it immediately. Don’t kid yourself, if you say you’ll get around to something, chances are five years will go by and you’ll find yourself no further ahead. I’ve planned to pay off my mortgage by age 31. I’m achieving this everyday by living frugally and working evenings and weekends as a financial journalist. If you want to achieve something, there’s no day like the present to get started.
3. Bring Energy
Successful people possess high levels of energy. It’s not enough for a successful person to hold down a steady job – they want to achieve more. I can attest to that – rather than spending my evenings and weekends watching TV or playing video games, I’m busying at work as a financial journalist. Successful people are willing and able to put in 80 hour workweeks without breaking a sweat. It’s that desire to succeed coupled with the high level of energy that sets successful people apart from the rest.
4. Stay Positive
Successful people are a positive source of energy. Not only are they positive about their own lives, they surround themselves by positive people. Are you sick of the naysayers and player haters , who constantly put you and your dreams down? Maybe you need to surround yourself by a new group of friends. Being positive is a two-way street. When you come to work, it’s important to leave the excess baggage at home. Whether you had a fight with your spouse, didn’t sleep well or were in a fender bender, leave your bad attitude at the door. Not only can a negative attitude hurt your performance, it can bring down the energy of the people that surround you.
Do you possess the four characteristics of successful people? What characteristic is holding you back?
Sean Cooper is the bestselling author of the book, Burn Your Mortgage: The Simple, Powerful Path to Financial Freedom for Canadians, available now on Amazon and at Chapters, Indigo and major bookstores, and as an Audiobook on Amazon, Audible and iTunes.