25 Critical Things Successful People Do Every Day

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Contrary to popular belief, success is not synonymous with luck.

A person is not born successful.

Many of us believe success includes a handful of genetic traits because usually a successful person will produce successful offspring.

Why is that?

It is because a successful person raises their kids to think the same way that they do, which is a way that is different from unsuccessful people.

The truth is success is synonymous with a good mindset, discipline and vision.

And these things affect how one does every little thing throughout their day.

So, how do people become successful?

What is their mindset? What do they do differently?

In this post, I will help you to answer these questions with a simple list of 33 things successful people do every day.

33 THINGS SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE DO EVERY DAY

#1. THEY SEIZE EVERY MOMENT

things successful people do

One of the first things successful people do is they look at every circumstance as an opportunity for growth.

And they take something positive away from every encounter.

They use big-picture thinking in all they encounter in life.

For example, something as simple as sitting in traffic can serve them, because they are aware of the fact that traffic can make them a more patient person. 

#2. THEY LOOK AT HOW FAR THEY’VE COME

journey

Even if they haven’t quite gotten to where they are wanting to go, they easily look at how far they’ve already come.

They track their progress in life, be it their business, their wealth, relationships and more.

They reward themselves along the way, and always pay homage to the work they have done so far.

In order to be successful, you can’t only be looking ahead.

You have to see the progress you made and remember the mistakes and successes you’ve had along the way.

A great way they do this is with a gratitude journal.

This journal helps them to acknowledge all the good in their lives and to be thankful for it.

#3. THEY BELIEVE IN THEMSELVES

People who don’t believe that they have what it takes to be a successful person are right.

You can set goals, learn from your failures, take criticism, all of it.

But you will not get anywhere if you don’t believe that you actually can.

Successful people know and believe that they are successful.

#4. THEY WORK ON GETTING BETTER, INSTEAD OF BEING GOOD

A lot of people have a bad habit of putting the spotlight on their strengths and think this will serve them will in life.

Successful people work on both their strengths and weaknesses.

They feel believe in the ability to acquire new skills and gradually become better and better at something.

The fewer weaknesses they have, the better prepared they will be for whatever life throws at them.

This makes them a more well rounded person.

#5. THEY FOCUS ON WHAT THEY WANT

By thinking about what you don’t want in your life, for example, bad hair cuts, putting on weight, or having a bad temper, they activate the negative part of their brains and bring even more of those things into their lives.

Instead, successful people focus on what they do want.

For example, great hair, being fit, getting along with everyone, and surprise, these things show up in their lives.

Having a positive thinking mindset is what sets them apart from others.

#6. THEY PRACTICE WILLPOWER

One of the overlooked things successful people do is they don’t mind stretching themselves beyond their limits.

In fact, they like to challenge their willpower muscle because they know it will help them to grow.

And they realize that the more they test and stretch their willpower muscle, the stronger it will be and the more difficult challenges they can overcome.

#7. THEY THROW AWAY TO-DO LISTS

It turns out, only about 41% of items on to-do lists actually ever get done.

The other 59% of things turn into stress and get set on the back burner.

In reality, a to do list is for a busy person who needs the list to remember what hopefully needs to get done.

Instead, a successful person marks daily goals on their calendars and maps out how they will spend their day, and exactly when they will get each item done.

This daily habit sets a structure to their day, which allows them to get more done than most others.

#8. THEY USE A NOTEBOOK

journaling

Using a notebook to record thoughts and ideas is not just for creative people.

Just about everyone can benefit from carrying a notebook around.

With so much going on in our lives, it’s easy to forget something important we want to remember or solutions to problems we are experiencing.

By writing things down, we can revisit them later and not risk losing them.

You can even take this idea one step further and use a bullet journal to get more done.

#9. THEY SAVE A TIME FOR EMAIL AND PHONE CALLS

Most successful people are never checking their emails constantly or quickly responding to every buzz of their cell phone.

Why?

It is distracting, and interrupts their thought processes and momentum.

Since it is oftentimes difficult to regain attention, they set a consistent schedule for checking and responding to all these daily interruptions.

#10. THEY HAVE A MORNING ROUTINE

To most successful people, they understand the morning hours are the most important times of the day.

As such, having a morning ritual is crucial.

Their constant morning routine consists of things such as a morning meditation or appreciation, writing, a workout, and eating a healthy breakfast.

Some even take it a step further and visualize the things they plan to accomplish.

This energizes them for peak performance all day long.

#11. THEY IGNORE THE STATUS QUO

They are bold and are not afraid to be or think differently.

They didn’t get successful by thinking like everyone else.

Look at Albert Einstein, for example.

His entire life was made of thinking differently than everyone else and he was often an outcast because of it.

But if he wasn’t brave enough to be different, he would have gotten nowhere in his findings.

#12. THEY ACCEPT CHANGE

The difference between a successful person and most people is most are afraid of change.

A successful person embraces it.

Knowing that change is really the only constant in life, they look at change as adding a little experience and flavor to their lives.

They plan for change, expect it, accept it, and use it in their favor.

#13. THEY IDENTIFY THEIR PURPOSE

While all of the things successful people do is important, having a purpose is essential.

When life gets questionable, they can always look towards their purpose as a form of motivation to continue forward.

Without purpose, many people get lost on the path of life.

They don’t have any direction or understand why they are doing things.

#14. THEY ARE OPEN TO CRITICISM

They not only accept criticism, but crave it.

They don’t live in a fantasy world where they are perfect.

They seek out the advice of others they respect to understand their shortcomings and where they can improve.

They are able to openly and lovingly look at their downfalls and do something to fix them.

#15. THEY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR DESTINY

Guide To Networking For Shy People

They don’t complain, look for excuses, or look out to others to blame for their problems.

They work to find the solutions themselves.

They are fully aware that they are in charge of their own lives, and they walk with their heads high, knowing that they are in full control.

#16. THEY TAKE CARE OF THEMSELVES

You cannot be a success if you don’t take care of yourself.

Getting a good night sleep, eating well, drinking water, and exercising are keys to keeping your mind and body ready to perform every day.

Even if you only spend a few minutes with exercise, it helps to clear your mind and invigorate you for the remainder of the day.

#17. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY GROWING

Whether it be from learning from others or from reading books, highly successful people are always learning and growing.

They refuse to by stuck in their ways.

They enjoy reading a book not only to recharge their energy levels but also to take lessons and apply them to their lives. 

And even if time is tight, they use other mediums to help them grow.

This includes listening to an audiobook or podcast.

They are unstoppable.

#18. THEY SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH POSITIVE PEOPLE

benefits of positive thinking

They only want to be around people who are uplifting, inspirational, and supportive.

This is one of the secrets to success.

You are who you surround yourself with.

Hang out with successful people and you will achieve personal growth and success.

Spend time with unsuccessful people and you won’t experience growth or success.

Their combination of friends have big dreams and a whole lot of ambition, and they all constantly work together to build each other up.

#19. THEY TAKE ACTION

Acquiring knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing or that you are a better person.

Becoming a bigger, better person happens when what you have learned changes how you act and live.

Knowledge is useless without action and intelligent people seek out and crave knowledge.

#20. THEY ARE UNAFRAID TO WORK OUTSIDE OF THEIR COMFORT ZONE

What holds many people back on the road to success is their inability to step outside their comfort zone.

They primarily do this because they don’t believe that they are ready.

Here’s a newsflash. You are never going to be ready.

The successful person that got ahead didn’t do so by waiting for the perfect moment.

They did so by being brave enough to step outside of their comfort zone.

#21. THEY KEEP IT SIMPLE

“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,” Da Vinci once said.

Many of us tend to vastly over complicate our lives.

Successful people find it easy to realize that life is really quite simple.

They don’t try to weigh every possible decision and over-analyze everything.

They simply just go with what feels right.

This is easier for them to do because they spend a lot of time in reflection and meditation.

They get in tune with themselves and as a result can rely on what feels right a lot more.

Having a quiet hour every few days is one way to get in tune with yourself.

#22. THEY ARE EMPATHETIC

That’s right, empathy is a key trait for success.

How does that put them ahead?

Understanding and truly being able to connect with and relate to people is crucial to success.

It also allows them to build strong relationships that have meaning.

#23. THEY ARE OPTIMISTIC

personal growth practices

They are always looking for the best in each and every situation.

Even when bad things happen, successful people work to find the positive in the situation and focus on that.

#24. THEY SPEND QUALITY TIME WITH LOVED ONES

They don’t let a busy life dampen the things in life that are most important to them.

They make sure to always spend enough time with family and the closest friends to stay connected to the ones they love.

One of the most important times they spend together is on a family dinner.

This family time allows for connection and bonding as you discuss your daily lives and relive past memories.

#25. THEY MEDITATE

Giving themselves the time to listen to their thoughts and intuitions is one of the most popular habits of successful people.

Having a clear, relaxed, and open mind is essential for success.

#26. THEY MAKE NIGHTLY LISTS

How often do you struggle to turn off your mind at night?

Or you spend the first hours of the day figuring out what you are going to do?

Successful people make action lists of the things they want to accomplish the next day.

This allows them to clear their minds for bed and hit the ground running in the morning.

Understand this isn’t a to do list of everything that they want to get done.

This is just a list of the important things that need to get done the next day.

#27. THEY LIMIT MEETINGS

Most meetings are a waste of time.

Over the course of an hour long meeting, there are only a few minutes that actually produce something meaningful.

When they do set meetings, successful entrepreneurs they set boundaries to keep it short and on point so as to not waste and precious time.

#28. MONEY IS NOT THEIR TOP PRIORITY

Most successful people are not driven by making the most money.

They are purpose driven and a byproduct of this is money.

Once they have money, they can then more easily build wealth for the future.

#29. THEY CHERISH THEIR PERSONAL LIFE

Success in life is not all about working all hours of the week.

Being great at productivity allows them to focus at work and then enjoy their free time doing the things they love the most.

#30. THEY DON’T GET BOGGED DOWN

Every day there are thousands of decisions you need to make.

Many unsuccessful people get caught up in the little things that really won’t matter in the long run.

As a result this leads to decision fatigue where you get overwhelmed and start making bad choices.

The reality is this limits them in achieving what they are trying to do.

Start to focus on the big things and you will achieve more in life.

Yes many times these things are the hard things to do, but the hard things usually offer the greatest rewards.

#31. THEY TAKE CALCULATED RISKS

One way to be successful in life is to take calculated risks.

You need to assess the situation and whether the benefit is worth the risk.

Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn’t.

A successful person is good at knowing when to take risk and when not to.

This doesn’t mean they don’t make mistakes.

But most times, they make the right call.

#32. THEY ARE CONSTANTLY NETWORKING

Having a network of highly respected peers is critical to success in life.

There is an old saying that it’s not what you know but who you know.

Making sure you have a strong network will only help you to succeed in life.

#33. THEY HAVE A MENTOR

In order for success in life, you need to have someone you look up to that will guide you.

There will be times when you are unsure of the decision you need to make or what to focus your energy on.

By having someone you respect in your corner to learn on, you can achieve more success.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So there are 33 things successful people do every day.

You can use these tips to increase your chances of success starting today.

Remember that success doesn’t happen overnight. It is a journey.

You have to continually work for and even when you feel as though you have reached a level of success, you still have to keep working at it.

While it might not sound exciting to work to become successful, the truth is, the rewards for being successful are priceless.

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