In my quest for professional success, I’ve spent a great deal time studying and observing the career trajectories of the highly accomplished. What I’ve discovered is actually very simple. Successful people come in all shapes and sizes. They work in different industries, fighting for different causes. But regardless of their industry, all successful people have three traits. Intelligence. Work ethic. A strong network.
Intelligence
It seems pretty straight forward. Either you’re born with high intelligence or you are not. To a certain degree this is true. However, there are plenty of intelligent people who squandered their natural mental capacity. Intelligence goes beyond IQ. Intelligent people know what their strengths are, what their weaknesses are, and how to maximize their productivity based on this assessment. They also work to improve themselves in the areas that they’re deficient in. They’re constantly learning. Which brings us to the second trait among successul people, work ethic.
Work Ethic
Tim Ferriss may have popularized the notion of a 4-Hour work week but most successful people work harder than everyone else. It’s that simple. Steve Jobs and Jeffrey Katzenberg are a few names that come to mind. Successful people aren’t always the smartest people, but they are the hardest workers. I truly believe this. Last one in, first one out doesn’t cut it. That doesn’t move you ahead of the pack. It’s the person that’s willing to put in the hours on direct work and work related activities (i.e. blogging, self-education, etc) that improves themselves and rockets past the competition. Even intelligence and hard work will only get you so far. The third trait of success, in my opinion, is the most important…the strength of your network.
A Strong Network
All successful people have a strong network. They have a network of people who believe in them, trust them, and will help them. A network can’t be handed down to someone. It’s something that you earn. You earn it by being intelligent, working hard, and making the effort to connect with people and bringing value to the relationship. Your network is what will get your client leads, job recommendations, and deal flow. Success isn’t a solo endeavor. You need people around you to help you get to where you need to be. Having a strong network can catapult careers to the highest of levels.
It’s pretty simple. Those who have achieved greatness possess those three traits. And the best part is, anyone can can acquire each of these three traits. A $100,000 college education or entrance into a secret society is not necessary for success. You need only the desire and willingness to make it happen . So go out there, work hard, learn more, and network like crazy. Success is an option that everyone has.





