4 big differences between successful and unsuccessful people

The world is supposedly divided into the haves and the have-nots.

The reality is, like Yoda once said, it is the dos and the do-nots.

What I mean by that is that success has as much to do with mindset as it has to do with anything else.

The most successful people have common traits that ultimately result in them achieving things that other people only dream about.

On the other hand, the less successful also share commonalities but rather than lifting them up, they keep them down.

In fact, it is quite easy to distinguish the successful from the unsuccessful – and it has nothing to do with what type of car that they drive.

1. Embrace change

The most successful people embrace change.

And that is imperative today given the speed of technological change that is part and parcel of our everyday lives.

Successful people view change as opportunities, which they can implement in their businesses to ensure they are always relevant.

Unsuccessful people, on the other hand, fear change.

They like every day to be the same as the one before because it makes them feel like they are in control.

The problem with this attitude is that it holds them back and means that, even if they decide to try embracing change, they are always in catch-up mode.

2. Want others to succeed

It might be seen as a bit of a cliché but the mantra “there is no ‘I’ in team” is a vital cog in the mindset of successful people.
They surround themselves with great people who have skills and talents different from their own.

As I always say, if you’re the smartest person in your team, then you’re in trouble!

By creating a cohesive unit that is working towards common goals, the most successful are supercharging their chances of success.

And, not only that, when the team has a win, successful people ensure that it is a team, rather than an individual, victory.

Unsuccessful people often feel jealous when someone is more successful than they are.

This is partly because they don’t have a success mindset, but they will also often try to hog the limelight because they falsely believe that that will make them shine.

The truth of the matter is that leaders understand the value of teamwork and will always ensure that each member feels as important as each other – including themselves.

3. Talk about ideas

It’s been a long time since I’ve been in high school, but sometimes I find myself in situations where it feels like I’m still in the schoolyard.

I’m talking about those moments when people spend a lot of their time talking about other people.

Another way to look at it is gossiping.

I’m not saying that sometimes I don’t talk about other people, but successful people generally try to keep this to a minimum in their business lives.

That’s because they know that talking about ideas is far more productive than gossiping about someone behind their back.

Unsuccessful people tend to spend a lot of their time talking about others when their brainpower would have been better used discussing ideas instead.

4. Always learning

As I just said, it’s been a long while since I was in high school, but that doesn’t mean that I stopped learning decades ago.

Successful people understand that continual learning is vital if they are going to remain at the top of their game.

Whether it be through books, seminars or educational qualifications, they are always learning more about their chosen careers, so they can ensure they remain one of the top performers.

Unsuccessful people aren’t really interested in learning anything new.

They are happy to clock on and off each day and often pass on the opportunity of professional development.

Their mindset will keep them poor instead of making them rich and successful.

At the end of the day, no one has more right to be successful than anyone else.

The reason why some people rise above the rest is they have the right mindset, motivation, and mojo to stand out from the crowd.

About Mark Creedon Mark Creedon is Director of Metropole's Business Accelerator Mastermind and business coach to some of Australia's leading entrepreneurs - each who call him their "unreasonable friend"
Visit Metropole's Business Accelerator Mastermind.