This article was inspired by a woman whose career path demonstrates the timeless traits of success. Her early entrepreneurial business endeavor was a bookstore. When her husband was promoted, they moved, and she had to find a new path. In her late 40s, with her children starting their own careers, she explored the workplace. After a couple of employment opportunities that didn’t complement her passions and talents, she decided to try real estate. Now in her late 50s, she is recognized as a highly successful realtor.
The Unchanging Nature of Success
We’ve all heard the truism –”Some things never change.” I find this is especially applicable to the nature of success. Neil Blumenthal, co-founder and CEO of Warby Parker, looks for very specific traits in his employees. He writes, “… I’m looking for proactive people, do their values align with the company? And part of that is, ‘learn to grow’ is one of our core values.”
Essential Characteristics
Here are three essential characteristics of successful people:
- Proactivity – Successful people are proactive in their approach to work. They have the intuition for getting ahead of problems before they arise. In the case of the realtor above, the compassion she shows for others in finding a new home enables her to know what her clients want. She listens for what may be hidden between the lines to get to an understanding of their needs.
- Cultural Alignment – Your skills and passion must be aligned with the culture of your industry. The realtor in the example above has an outgoing personality, a welcoming smile, and enthusiasm for people. She gets energy from her clients, and her excitement is contagious. Given the culture of real estate sales, these traits make her a natural for success.
- Commitment to Continuous Growth – Important to success in any profession is being purpose-driven for self-improvement. Also, you must be constantly curious and ask good questions. This requires a degree of humility. To close sales, there must be self-awareness, resilience, and, as already mentioned, enthusiasm. Commitment to continuous growth is an important trait to have.
Human qualities drive success
Whether starting a bookstore in your 30s or excelling in real estate in your 50s, the formula for success remains constant: proactivity, cultural alignment, and a commitment to continuous growth. These timeless characteristics distinguish high achievers in every generation and in every field. Remember, while industries and technologies may change, the human qualities that drive success never do.