Typically, when striving to be successful, we focus on developing the skills that we need for success. So, we may focus on improving our problem-solving abilities. Or we may try to develop our self-discipline or communication skills. But often, we overlook what is the true foundation of success: Character. Our character traits are critical to our success.
You cannot be completely successful in life without good character. Admittedly with poor character, you can be successful – but only in certain areas of your life. For example, if you are highly talented, you likely will achieve professional success. But if you also are rude and unkind, your personal relationships will be a disaster.
Or, perhaps you are popular and charismatic, and as a result, you have a lot of friends. However, if you are also dishonest, you won’t advance professionally.
So, in order to enjoy complete success, you need to have good character.
Below are character traits to work on in order to experience complete success in life. Consider developing these traits in yourself and see your life improve!
To Be Successful, Have a Generous Spirit
Having a generous spirit is one of the keys to success. When you are generous with your resources, time and encouragement, you set the stage for your personal and professional success. That is because folks who are generous are attractive. We want to be around them.
For example, employers want to hire and promote people who are generous with their time and their praise. We all want generous people in our families and as our friends because generous people are helpful and pleasant to be around.
Let’s face it. No one wants to be around stingy or critical people. So, if you want to catapult yourself to professional and personal success, work on your generosity. Developing that character trait will be your best investment!
Learn to Be Respectful
There is no law against being disrespectful to others. You can be rude and run around telling people off. You can insult and demean people. And truthfully, nothing will happen. At least not right away.
But eventually people will grow tired of you. For instance, no one wants disrespectful people in the workplace. Their behavior upsets everyone and ruins morale. And no one wants disrespectful people in their families or amongst their friends. Disrespectful people are exhausting to be around.
So, when it comes to how you treat others, hold yourself to the highest standard. Be respectful. Don’t act like a loose cannon. Refrain from telling people off. Realize that it isn’t your job to correct other people. Your job is to regulate your own behavior and make sure that you are operating at the highest level possible.
To Be Successful, Learn to Be Easygoing
People who take themselves and life too seriously struggle to be successful. For example, they don’t make good leaders because they lack perspective. A pebble of a problem is a giant boulder to them which can’t be overcome.
And in their personal lives, people who take everything too seriously aren’t relaxed. Instead, they are tense, easily offended and argumentative. And their relationships suffer because they are always at odds with someone.
To be successful in life, you need to develop a relaxed and easygoing attitude. With a relaxed attitude, you won’t overreact when encountering small problems. For example, problems at work, big or small, will not overwhelm you. Instead, you’ll calmly look for a solution. You’ll be the person who everyone turns to when they encounter an issue at the office.
In your personal life, if you are easygoing, folks will want to spend time with you. You won’t be the person who is forever picking arguments or complaining. Instead, you’ll be the person who takes life as it comes, and whose cup is always half full. We all want to be around people like that!
Learn to Be Thoughtful
It is easy to get wrapped up in ourselves, and in our own needs and desires. Life easily can become all about “me, myself and I” if we let it.
When we become too consumed with ourselves, we soon become thoughtless. We then fail to do the kind gestures that are the oil that smooths our human relationships. Birthday cards, anniversary gifts, thank you notes and emails to say, “Job Well Done!” aren’t on our radar when we are self-obsessed.
Thoughtful behavior bolsters our relationships. For instance, you certainly can go to your job and never express appreciation to your colleagues. But if you tell the people who work for you and with you, “Great Job!” on a regular basis, your work relationships will flourish. People will perceive you as being grateful for the hard work of others.
Similarly, our personal relationships improve when we are thoughtful. That is the way that we show the people we are closest to that we care. A note of encouragement when your child is having a rough week makes a difference. Remembering birthdays and recognizing other milestones of family members and friends makes people feel that they are important to you. Small, thoughtful gestures truly improve all our relationships.
Developing thoughtfulness isn’t hard. It just requires us to be on alert to the ways that we can be good to others. Trust me. Opportunities exist! At least once a week, you can engage in a thoughtful act to cheer up someone who is struggling or celebrate someone. It just requires you to be, well, thoughtful.
The character traits of being generous, respectful, easygoing and thoughtful are not just traits that help us be better people. They also are traits that help us be more successful in in life. Work at developing these character traits and see your life change for the better! (To read about creating the right environment for success, click here.)
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