10 Habits of Highly Successful People

and How to Practically Apply Them To Your Own Life

“Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap a character; sow a character, reap a destiny.” These are the words of the author Stephen Covey, in his best-selling book The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.

This idea has been echoed by authors and powerful celebrities time and again in the decades since its first publication in 1989. 
While the words might be altered from person to person, the message remains the same: Success comes through intention and effort. You cannot just WILL something to happen. You must first set the intention and then make a valid effort to make it happen.

But What is Success?

The very definition of success can vary greatly between people, places, and economies; however, I believe Maya Angelou said it best with her well-known statement, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” 

I think it’s essential to point out and remind you, dear reader, that success is not defined by wealth, social status, and material possessions. No. Rather, it’s to have built a life that you are proud of, and to have achieved it by your own rules, and your own hard work.

There are many people that we (sweeping generalization) look up to as having led a successful life. Whether it be Oprah Winfrey or Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Mother Theresa or Bill Gates, all these people, and even those who aren’t as well known, have developed some habits in their daily lives that have attributed to their success.

But what are those habits?

Top 10 Things Successful People Do

1. They Read….Constantly

According to some studies I’ve read, as many as 88% of wealthy people allocate a minimum of 30 minutes a day to reading; more specifically, on self-improvement.

Tips to Read More

  • Don’t limit yourself to one book at a time
  • Don’t limit yourself to one genre or topic
  • Identify your reading style (do you prefer to read an actual book, eBook, or maybe listen to a book?)
  • Figure out when you’re most likely to read in your day and stick to that time
  • Utilize various programs available to you for easy digital consumption (Audible, Kindle, etc)

2. They Have An Intentional Set Morning Routine

The late Steve Jobs had a very deliberate and intentional morning routine, with one non-negotiable element: every morning he would stand in front of the mirror and ask himself, “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” If there were too many “No” answers for too many days in a row, he knew he needed to change things. 

Jack Dorsey, co-founder & former CEO of Twitter, starts his mornings with an hour-long meditation session. He knows that meditation is one of the most powerful practices to clear the mind, relieve stress, and prepare for the day ahead.

Tips On How to Set An Intentional Morning Routine:

  • Avoid checking or using your cell phone for the first hour of every day
  • Prepare your mindset for the day by making your bed right away
  • Combine already existing habits to create a new habit

3. They Spend Time Reflecting…Every Day.

According to this study, funded by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, researchers found that simply writing about your feelings may help you perform an upcoming stressful task more efficiently. I’m not suggesting that journaling is the ONLY way to reduce stress and ease worries, but it’s definitely proven to be one of many effective ways.

Tips for practicing daily reflection:

  • Practice visualization meditation for 10-15 minutes every day
  • Set SMART goals and review them each morning as you plan your day
  • Utilize wellness journals to improve confidence and focus
  • Create a vision board to refer to every morning during your visualization meditation
  • Use mental health apps to help with guided meditation, reflection, and mindfulness (such as Calm, Headspace, iBreathe, etc)

4. Set Multiple Goals & Income Streams

In a commentary article for CNBC, written in 2017, author Tom Corley wrote: “65% of wealthy individuals surveyed had at least three income streams.” Beyond that, he goes on to share that 45% have 4 income streams, while 29% had 5 or more income streams.

Quite matter-of-factly, he puts it this way: “Putting all of your eggs in one basket by being dependent on one stream of income is risky. If that basket breaks, what do you do?”

Additional income sources used by successful people:

  • Side hustles, such as freelancing, business consulting, virtual assistant, eCommerce, Cryptocurrency, and more
  • Investments in real estate properties and earning rental income
  • Royalties from intellectual property, such as copyrights, trademarks, and inventions
  • Income from a business they’ve started or run (like a franchise, blog, or service)

5. They Make Exercise A Priority

To deny the importance of daily exercise in cultivating a successful life is equivalent to denying the need for food to sustain life. Those with successful daily habits understand that exercise nourishes benefits beyond comparisons, such as accomplishment, improved mental performance, and mental recharging. Even those who have already achieved many great accomplishments in life never compromise on their daily workouts.

Tips for starting a daily exercise routine:

  • Start with something you love. Running? Swimming? Biking?
  • Many people find the mornings are the best time to work out but find the time that works best for you and commit to it
  • Set realistic goals, keeping in mind that all new habits take time, and remember to practice self-compassion
  • Utilize fitness apps (MyFitnessPal, ClassPass, etc) or join a local gym

6. They Stay Organized

Time management & organization are key habits of highly successful people. Daily planners, organizers, checklists, and task sheets—these are the weapons of highly effective people. In fact, many of these people will set a nightly alarm, and prepare for the day ahead the night before. 

Strategies for getting organized:

  • Implement time-blocking for daily dedicated and scheduled tasks
  • Identify your personal and professional priorities
  • Tackle the high-priority items first
  • Provide an environment with little room for interruptions

7. They Surround Themselves With Other Successful People

The law of attraction dates back to at least the 6th Century BC, when Confucius wrote, “If you are the smartest person in the room, then you are in the wrong room.” This idea, that you are who you surround yourself with, has lasted so long because it’s true. Even better: you can use this to achieve your goals and dreams for a successful life.

Tips for surrounding yourself with other successful people:

  • Let go of the people and/or relationships that make you feel drained
  • Attend a professional conference in your field
  • Join a mentorship program, mastermind group, or professional group in your field of focus
  • Identify the type of people who will complement your goals & aspirations

8. They Are Philanthropists 

We’re going to circle back to the law of attraction for this one, again. The belief that positivity out is positivity back in. Successful people believe that only by serving others can that positivity be returned to them.

Contrary to what many believe, there are far more philanthropist celebrities than one might think. From Elton John to Miley Cyrus, Meryl Streep to Jackie Chan, there are a ton of successful celebrities who give and give and give.

Ways to Serve Others:

  • Check on your loved ones and friends during the day, especially the elderly
  • Find a local organization that speaks to your heart and volunteer your time and/or skills
  • Donate your gently used clothing to local schools
  • Host a fundraising event, clothing drive, or environmental cleanup for your community.

9. They Take Care of Themselves

It’s not just about who you know, and where to be. For highly successful people, they know that they exert a lot of energy on any given day, and to be able to sustain that kind of lifestyle they understand the importance of replenishing that energy. In order to keep their energy levels high, they must take very good care of themselves, from eating right to getting a good night’s sleep and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. 

Tips for maximizing your potential through self-care:

  • Put measures in place to develop good sleep habits
  • Eat well and look at food as nourishment for not just your body, but your mind as well
  • Avoid being around people that encourage unhealthy behaviors and choices
  • Keep routine visits with your physician and pay attention to your body

10. They Practice Positivity, Meditation, and Gratitude

Even the late Kobe Bryant knew the importance of practicing positive thinking and gratitude. “I meditate every day . . . I do it in the mornings and I do it for about 10–15 minutes, and I think it’s important because it sets me up for the rest of the day,” he shared in an interview with Oprah. 

In this article published by Harvard Health, it is stated, “With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives. In the process, people usually recognize that the source of that goodness lies at least partially outside themselves. As a result, being grateful also helps people connect to something larger than themselves as individuals — whether to other people, nature, or a higher power.”

Tips on Cultivating Gratitude:

  • Write Thank You notes
  • Keep a gratitude journal
  • Meditate, or utilize a guided meditation app to practice gratitude

As with anything, change rarely happens overnight. You might not accomplish all of the tasks on your list, you might miss a meditation, or you might forget to set a nighttime alarm to prep for the day ahead. That’s okay. Remember to practice self-compassion, pick yourself up, and keep going. Don’t stop because of one misstep – just continue to make an effort. That is how to best emulate successful people: by forging forward. In the end, that is what sets successful people apart.

Namaste,

Kiki