What are some of the secrets of UBER successful people?
Our lead climber about to Summit Island Peak (6189m), Everest Region, photo by Paul Swettenham
I’ve thought about some of the traits that are often common in very successful people that I’ve observed over a number of years and thought I'd put them down in a blog.....
Successful people:
***Have passion for what they do - they'll go the extra mile or make that point because they really care. This often extends into their personal lives - interests, sport & hobbies
***Make mistakes - they learn from them and move on
***Manage their diary constantly - updating / deleting moving tasks that are completed
***Are on time - and constantly managing their time. They tend to wear a watch. People like working with people that are on time & up for it as it makes doing business with them easy.
***Exercise. It's often nice before work if you can fit it in a hectic schedule, even taking a 20 minute walk at lunch is valuable - after work, a swim at lunchtime or whenever you can fit it in. Exercise clears the head meaning decision making becomes easier and anxiety/stress decreases.
***Network - go to industry events, this not only gives you new ideas, but you get to meet industry experts, competitors & see how other companies do things - the old saying is 'It’s not what you know but who you know’ I’ve found a combination of people who know their domain & knowing people makes them a very strong professional.
***Work hard - it's no secret that the more you practice something the better you get & that's the same for successful professionals. They work a lot & gain very good experience and expertise by doing something over & over.
***Are strong in adversity - when one door closes another opens and they're quick to act & keep their options open
Paul summiting Lobuche Peak 6189m in the Himalayas, Nepal photo Sunstone Collection
***Know how to say NO - they're up front if they can't commit to something as to not let someone down, and as their time is so valuable it's a key habit of successful people that a lot of others don't - say NO.
***Spend time up front - In life some patience and time spent on planning up front saves you time later…."measure twice cut once' as builders say.
***Eat Healthily - you often feel energised by eating fresh, healthy, nutritious food and to be a champion at work you need to act like an athlete.
***Balanced - you hear it all the time, but it's true - healthy eating, getting a good amount of sleep, exercise, friends & family time.
***Dress Stylishly - Don’t skimp on work clothes - you should buy good quality, stylish gear that not only looks good but lasts. Especially buy good shoes. Successful stylish people also like other stylish people.
***Balance Caffeine intake - this not only includes coffee but tea, red bull or V…have too many of those puppies and you’ll be second guessing if you sent the right email or start to over think / get anxious - keep it balanced & drink lots of water.
***Enjoy the down times - you're not a machine 24/7/365 or else you'll BURN OUT so it's important to enjoy quieter / less busy periods so enjoy them when you can and have a laugh.
***They Train - whether it's a bit of self learning on the net, or going to a seminar or conference they're always eager to learn new techniques or how to do something better, easier, faster.
***Have a professional personal email address - if you’re job hunting / dealing with other stuff like insurance, that "hilarious" email address you created when you were at university may not be setting the right tone for you these days.
High in the Himalayas, Paul at Advanced base camp climbing Island peak, Nepal photo Sunstone collection
***Are social - even if you’re not a party animal just by showing up and participating shows interest & getting on with your colleagues - even if you don’t drink - nobody cares these days - it's about having a good time, a chinwag & reminding each other (after the stress of delivering that project or piece of work to a tight deadline) we’re all part of a team, we're human & we (mostly!) like each other.
***Use technology - to make your life easier. This is a no brainer whether it's hands-free in the car or a new opensource tool or App for your team - try new things both personally & professionally.
***Look after themselves - I was talking to a high flying financial executive & when he was working crazy hours in London, he had a non negotiable appointment for the the gym in his diary 4 days a week because it kept him balanced & made him perform better. Also no skipping on dentist or doctors appointments - this can only lead to more time spent down the line on your health.
***They never give up - they're extremely tenacious and see failures as minor setbacks - learning from them on how they could do it better next time
***Focus on long-term Health - the biggest thing that the older generation talk about is HEALTH both mental & physical - remember it's a marathon not a sprint....
So take care of yourself and your professional, family & personal life and you will flourish on all levels.
Paul is founder of Sunstone, an IT Recruitment company based in Christchurch, New Zealand