In my 20s, well before I knew anything about adulting or success, I wrote an article called Top 2 Traits of Successful People, in which I earnestly claimed:
A successful person needs to be realistic and disciplined.
I am here now as a 40 year old with different opinions. I still hold Reality as my own highest pillar of virtue, but I don’t necessarily correlate it to success. Furthermore, I don’t ever talk about discipline anymore as I think it lacks nuances that recognize our long-term need for adventure, discovery, and self-expression.
What is success?
Today, we’ll define success simply as something like health and happiness.
Top Traits
Realism and discipline served me well in school and as an engineer. But they’re not my top recommendations anymore for general success.
Likability
When times are hard, which they will be sometimes, emotionally or financially, having friends and people who love you is very supportive. And when times are good, opportunities are flowing, being able to network easily or having friends in high places looking out for you is very powerful.
Work Ethic
Similar to discipline, except just get your work done. You know what you should do, do it. It seems to me that most successful people get away with a lot of looseness, downtime, and play. The point is not to discipline yourself into an austere monk ninja warrior; the point is to get your work done.
Summary
Be likable. Do what you should do. Enjoy your healthy, happy, successful life.
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