10 of the Rarest and Most Coveted Traits of Successful People

If you're looking to achieve big goals, there are some things that you really need to have. And while it might not seem like common sense, these 10 traits are present in the lives of those who've accomplished their biggest ambitions. Of course, success is not just about one thing but if you want to be successful at something, it helps to have people who've done it before and succeeded.

Which is why I've put together this list of the things that are, in my opinion, the most important:

1. Clearcut Goals

Whether it's your goal to become world famous or meet someone specific and who might happen to be in your dorm, you need a goal that is crystal clear. You want to know exactly what you want before you begin, and not waste your time or energy on something that's not working out for you.

2. Contingency Plans

With clear goals, you need to have a contingency plan ready as well. A contingency plan is a plan in case something unexpected happens. It's important to have these plans because most goals don't happen right away. There will be bumps along the way, and those bumps can create some distractions on your road to your goal if you've not prepared yourself with a contingency plan beforehand.

3. Constant Support

Most people who are successful are surrounded by support be it family and friends or even complete strangers who champion their cause. That said, they all have one thing in one common: they're always there for them. Even if they're not directly supporting them, they are there cheering them on and trying to help.

4. A Strong Willpower

It's hard to have a goal and stick with it when you don't want it but if you want something bad enough, you can always find a way to get it done. That's why willpower is so important. It's the ability to turn off your emotions and push the reset button after a bad day or any type of setback that comes your way. And the fact that successful people have it means that they are able to get through their bad days and stay on track for their goals.

5. Passion

This is a strong one and I mean strong. Successful people are passionate about something because they care deeply about it, whether they're passionate about music or teaching children, or passionate about marketing or entrepreneurship. If someone wants something enough, they will always be able to find a way to make it happen. This passion is one of the most important traits of successful people.

6. The Desire to Help Others

Maybe you'd like to know how to make money online, or become successful in your career. Maybe you want to know how to create your own business and start building something that makes a difference in the world. Or maybe you've always wanted to be a champion of something, even if it's just volunteering at your local soup kitchen. Whatever your goals are, it's critical that you have a desire to help others because if you're not helping others, what else are you really doing?

7. The Willpower for Change

It's hard to be successful, but it's even harder if you're uncomfortable with change. Too many people are afraid of change because it's new, and because they don't know what will happen and fear breeds more fear. We become stuck in a cycle of fear that causes us to retreat back into our comfort zones instead of growing and moving forward, which is what we need to do if we're looking to succeed.

8. A Supportive Structure

For most people, this one is kind of obvious. But successful people don't just have the right goal and clear goal, they also have a support structure. That means friends and family who are there for them and can help support them along the way.

It means a boss who is okay with taking time off to get ahead in their career, or a spouse who's supportive of their goals. And it also means someone willing to put in the hard work it takes to make things happen whether that be through following up with you, setting up meetings for you or helping you set up your next steps in life.

9. A Plan, Schedule and Structure

Something I say time and time again is that if you don't have a plan, then you're not really doing anything and successful people are those who always have a plan. If you're not in the habit of having a plan start now! You don't need to spend hours and hours on it, just make sure you're putting some thought into what you want to be doing long term before you get started. Make sure it's realistic while still challenging enough to keep your interest. Then, use your schedule to stay on top of things as much as possible.

10. A Sense of Accomplishment

After you've put all of this hard work towards your goals, of course you want to see something in return. This is what makes people successful because they keep moving forward and always have something to come back to when they need a boost or motivation. You can't be afraid of taking risks, but you also can't be afraid to back off if something's not working out the way that you planned it. So make sure that there's an incentive for everything you're doing so that your second step will lead into the third and fourth steps after that.

Finally

While this article comes off as a bit of a summary, I have to say that the points here aren't necessarily things that you should do all at once. Instead, use them as guidelines for the people you idolize the people who inspire you to become successful and help others. So don't just read these tips and say Okay, I can start doing all of these now instead think about how they can help make your life better. If those steps above fit with your goals and your personality, then keep them in mind when you're trying to accomplish something great.