Keys to Tapping Your Own Potential

Success is the business of trying to improve the things you do. Success is growing and developing. It's accepting bigger and greater challenges. And it begins with having a dream.

What are the characteristics of a successful person?

The following factors are identified as characteristics of successful people:

• Successful people have ambition. They want to accomplish something and are willing to use self-discipline and work as hard as possible to reach their goals.

• Successful people are strongly motivated toward achievement.

• Successful people are focused. They concentrate on their main goals and objectives, and they don't get sidetracked. They produce results.

• Successful people learn how to get things done. They use their skills, talents, energies; and knowledge to the fullest extent possible. They do the things that need to be done, not just the things they like to do.

• Successful people look for solutions to problems and take advantage of opportunities when they see them.

• Successful people think before making decisions. They think about the issues and relevant facts, give them adequate deliberation and consideration, and then make a decision.

• Successful people have the courage to admit they've made a mistake. They "own" their mistake, do their best to fix it, and then move on.

• Successful people are self-reliant. They have the skills, talents, and training needed to be successful.

• Successful people have specific knowledge, training, skills, and talents. They also know their limitations, and work with other people to produce the best work possible.

• Successful people work with and cooperate with other people. They have a positive, outgoing personality. They surround themselves with people who offer them help, support, and encouragement.

• Successful people are enthusiastic. They're excited by what they're doing, and their excitement is contagious. People want to work with them, do business with them, and be with them.

It's obvious that people are not born with all these characteristics. Success comes with self-awareness, practice, failure, sometimes more failure, and more practice. But the rewards can be great when the strategies result in positive interpersonal and work relationships.