Date 09/13/2008

A Bakers Dozen - The 13 Characteristics Of Successful People
with Jeffrey Mayer

As you look at and study these skills, talents, and characteristics,
you'll realize that you possess many of them yourself.

Some of these skills and talents are more dominant than others
and will play a greater part in your being, or becoming, a
success in the business of life. These are the things you do well.

The things you do easily and effortlessly. These are your strengths.

When you find you need a skill or talent you don't have, just go
out and look for a person or group of people with the skills,
talents, and training you need - skills and talents that complement your own.

These people will become your teammates, colleagues, co-workers,
professional advisors, and friends. With these combined skills
and talents organizations grow, prosper, and become successful.

These are the five things you'll find every
successful person has in common:
1. They have a dream.
2. They have a plan.
3. They have specific knowledge or training.
4. They're willing to work hard.
5. They don't take no for an answer.
Remember: Success begins with a state of mind. You must
believe you'll be successful in order to become a success.

The following is a list of the skills, talents, and characteristics
you'll find in successful people:
1. Successful People Have a Dream.
They have a well-defined purpose. They have a definite goal.
They know what they want.
They aren't easily influenced by the thoughts and opinions of
others. They have willpower. They have ideas.
Their strong desire brings strong results. They go out and do
things that others say can't be done.
Remember: It only takes one sound idea to achieve success.
Remember: People who excel in life are those who produce
results, not excuses. Anybody can come up with
excuses and explanations for why he hasn't made it.
Those who want to succeed badly
enough don't make excuses.

2. Successful People Have Ambition.
They want to accomplish something. They have enthusiasm,
commitment, and pride. They have self-discipline.
They're willing to work hard and to go the extra mile. They have
a burning desire to succeed. They're willing to do whatever
it takes to get the job done.
Remember: With hard work come results. The joy in life
comes with working for and achieving something.

3. Successful People Are Strongly
Motivated Toward Achievement.
They take great satisfaction in accomplishing a task.

4. Successful People Are Focused.
They concentrate on their main goals and objectives.
They don't get sidetracked.
They don't procrastinate. They work on the projects that are
important, and don't allow those projects to sit until the last
minute. They're productive, not just busy.

5. 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. They are willing to work hard and to commit
themselves to getting the job done.
Remember: Happiness is found in doing and accomplishing,
not in owning and possessing.
Many years ago I was asked: "Jeff, do you like pleasing
habits or pleasing results?" As I pondered that probing
question, and squirmed in my chair like a worm at the end
of a hook, I felt as if I had painted myself into a corner.
A few moments later I answered: "I like pleasing results."
From that moment on my life changed. I began to do the
things that were difficult, because they enabled me to
achieve my goals.

6. Successful People Take Responsibility
for Their Actions.
They don't make excuses. They don't blame others.
They don't whine and complain.

7. Successful People Look for Solutions to Problems.
They're opportunity minded. When they see opportunities
they take advantage of them.

8. Successful People Make Decisions.
They think about the issues and relevant facts, give them
adequate deliberation and consideration, and make a decision.
Decisions aren't put off or delayed, they're made now!
SuccessTip: Spend more time thinking and planning before you
make your decision, and you'll make better decisions.
SuccessTip: When you don't get the expected results from the
decision you've made, change your course of action.
Decisions should never be carved in stone.

9. Successful People Have the Courage
to Admit Their Mistakes.
When you make a mistake, admit it, fix it, and move on.
Don't waste a lot of time, energy, money, and/or other
resources trying to defend a mistake or a bad decision.
Remember: When people are wrong, they may admit it to themselves.
If they are handled gently and tactfully, they may admit it
to others and even take pride in their frankness and broad-
mindedness. But people become very defensive and angry
when others try to cram their mistakes down their throats.

10. Successful People Are Self-Reliant.
They have the skills, talents, and training that
are needed in order to be successful.

11. Successful People Have Specific Knowledge,
Training and Skills.
They know the things they need to know to be successful. And when
they need information, knowledge, or skills and talents that they
don't possess, they find someone who does possess them.

12. Successful People Work with and Cooperate
with Other People.
They have positive, outgoing personalities. They surround
themselves with people who offer them help, support,
and encouragement. They are leaders.

13. Successful People Are Enthusiastic.
They're excited by what they're doing, and that excitement is
contagious. They draw people to them because these
people want to work with them, do business
with them, and be with them.