100 Things Successful People Do

1. Define and Pursue Your Dreams with Clear Goals.

If you have a goal, write it down. If you do not write it down, you do not have a goal – you have a wish.

Dreams fuel success. Meaningful, lasting success starts with identifying your personal dreams and aspirations. These are unique to you and can span career, relationships, health, or peace. Don't let others' expectations define your vision.

Turn wishes into goals. Clearly writing down your dreams transforms them into actionable goals. This forces clarity, makes them memorable, and allows you to create plans. Use the SMART framework (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timeframe-bound) to make goals concrete.

Plan your path. Achieving goals requires more than just writing them down; it demands action, persistence, and sometimes sacrifice. Identify where you are now, where you want to be, and bridge the gap. Seek support from others aligned with your vision.

2. Take Action and Embrace Discomfort.

It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might as well not have lived at all, in which case you have failed by default.

Success requires action. Good fortune often results from hard work and preparation, not just luck. Don't let fatalistic thinking or past failures dictate your future; take control and create it yourself. Be ready to persist, work hard, and take calculated risks.

Step outside comfort. Growth happens when you leave your comfort zone. This might mean changing jobs, ending relationships, or starting new ventures. Fear of failure, loss of face, or the unknown often holds us back.

Pain is worth gain. Weigh the potential gains of change against the costs of staying put. Understand your fears, but don't let them paralyze you. Seek mentors who have overcome similar obstacles and learn from their courage.

3. Cultivate a Resilient and Positive Mindset.

Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you react to it.

Control your reaction. Losing control of emotions like anger or jealousy can derail success and damage relationships. Emotional intelligence (EQ) is key to a balanced life, allowing you to keep emotions in check and respond thoughtfully, not reactively.

Manage your thoughts. Your thoughts profoundly impact your reality. Negative thoughts about fear or inadequacy can become self-fulfilling prophecies. Consciously cultivate positive, helpful thoughts that support your goals.

Banish stress. Stress destroys dreams, health, and happiness. Identify its causes, whether work pressure, relationships, or lack of personal time. Manage effects with sleep, exercise, or meditation, but ultimately tackle the root causes to live a stress-free life.

4. Build and Nurture Meaningful Relationships.

The most basic and powerful way to connect to another person is to listen. Just listen.

Relationships are key. Success is richer when shared with others. Being likeable, trustworthy, kind, and empathetic helps build strong connections. While not everyone needs to like you, cultivating goodwill is essential.

Build rapport. Understanding and connecting with others is fundamental. Listen attentively, show empathy, and find common ground. Mirroring body language can unconsciously build comfort.

Choose wisely. The people you spend time with significantly influence you. Seek friends who uplift you, help you grow, and stand by you. Be brave enough to distance yourself from toxic individuals who drain your energy or bring you down.

5. Prioritize Your Physical and Mental Health.

Where is the sense in working too hard, getting over-stressed and burning out, just to earn enough money to pay for your healthcare?

Health is true wealth. Sacrificing health for work or money is a false economy. Maintain physical health through exercise, healthy eating, and sufficient sleep. Avoid overwork and stress to protect your mental health.

Listen to your body. Stress manifests physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. Recognize the signs like fatigue, irritability, or lack of focus. Address these before they become chronic issues.

Connect with nature. Spending time outdoors reduces stress and anxiety, lowers blood pressure, and boosts mood. Engage in activities like gardening, walking in parks, or simply being in nature to ground yourself and gain perspective.

6. Commit to Continuous Learning and Self-Improvement.

The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.

Life is a university. Learning doesn't end with formal education; it's a lifelong mindset of listening, exploring, and being open to new ideas. Learn from mistakes and challenging experiences; they offer invaluable lessons.

Know yourself. Understand your personality, strengths, and weaknesses. Seek feedback from others and use assessment tools. Maximize your strengths while managing weaker areas, recognizing that self-awareness is key to growth.

Become an expert. Focus your energy on mastering areas you are passionate about or that align with your goals. Expertise requires deliberate practice, seeking feedback, and learning from failure. Share your knowledge to deepen your understanding.

7. Manage Your Finances and Value Experiences.

Buy experiences, not things. Spending on experiences makes people happier than spending on things.

Financial health matters. Achieving dreams often requires money, necessitating financial planning and goal-setting. Understand your income, expenses, assets, and debts. Aim to live within your means and save consistently.

Defer consumption. Avoid borrowing to consume now; prioritize saving and investing for future goals. Don't feel pressured to keep up with others' spending habits. Financial independence comes from your ability to produce wealth, not just accumulate it.

Invest in experiences. Research shows experiences bring more lasting happiness than material possessions. Travel, classes, or cultural events create positive memories that endure. Prioritize spending on activities that enrich your life and broaden your perspective.

8. Live with Unwavering Integrity.

Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.

Truth builds trust. Doing what you say you will do builds trustworthiness, a vital commodity. Even small broken promises erode trust over time. Be honest, especially in important relationships and commitments.

Character over reputation. Your true character is revealed when no one is watching. Cultivate traits you are proud of, ensuring your private self aligns with your public persona. Don't let the need for external validation compromise your values.

Consequences of deceit. Lying and cheating, even in seemingly small ways, undermine genuine success. Fake wins are meaningless and built on unstable foundations. Be ready for the inevitable consequences when deceit is discovered, which can destroy reputation and freedom.

9. Make Peace with Your Past and Let Go of Regret.

To forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you.

Past shapes present. Unresolved issues from your past, like regrets or hurts, can hold you back. Acknowledge these feelings, even if they are subconscious. Understand what truly happened by seeking perspectives from others or through reflection.

Forgive others (and yourself). Holding onto anger or resentment harms only you. Forgiving others frees you from negative emotions and allows you to move forward. Forgive yourself for past mistakes; none of us are perfect.

Learn and move on. Use wisdom gained from past experiences to inform your present and future. Recognize recurring patterns in your behavior or relationships. Resolve lingering issues by clearing the air with those involved, if possible, to find peace.

10. Embrace Your Uniqueness and Go Your Own Way.

You were born an original. Don’t die a copy.

Be true to yourself. While fitting in can be useful, don't suppress your unique personality, desires, and ambitions to please others or play it safe. Successful people often stand out by following their own path.

Accept disappointment. Being authentic may sometimes disappoint others who have different expectations for you. Communicate your choices and reasons, but ultimately, prioritize being true to yourself. Those who truly matter will understand.

Stop chasing others. Don't waste energy comparing yourself to others or chasing their dreams. Focus on your own unique needs, desires, and ambitions. Your path to fulfillment is yours alone, not a copy of someone else's.

11. Be Present and Appreciate What You Have.

Be grateful for what you have and stop complaining – it bores everybody else, does you no good, and doesn’t solve any problems.

Live in the moment. Mindfulness means calmly paying attention to the present without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It's about appreciating what is happening now, cutting through distractions and anxieties.

Cultivate gratitude. Being thankful for what you have, no matter how small, improves mood, reduces stress, and fosters optimism. Don't let comparison or a sense of entitlement blind you to your blessings.

Show appreciation. Make gratitude a daily habit by consciously recognizing and thanking others for their efforts, big or small. Expressing sincere appreciation strengthens relationships and creates a positive environment around you.

12. Give Generously and Help Others Succeed.

You have not lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.

Success is shared. True success involves helping others. Give your time, money, and attention unconditionally to those in need. This brings a deep sense of fulfillment that material gain cannot match.

Generosity takes many forms. Beyond financial contributions, generosity includes offering support, listening, giving credit, or simply being kind. Look for opportunities to help others without expecting anything in return.

Start small, act often. Integrate generosity into your daily life through small acts of kindness. Acknowledge the generosity of others and encourage those around you to give. Giving is a powerful force for positive change, both for the recipient and the giver.

Last updated: May 8, 2025