Atlanta's consumer guru, Clark

Howard, recently shared that a survey was conducted among America's most

successful people with surprising results. It seems that, although the

most successful among us are extremely varied in their abilities and interests,

there are 10 common characteristics found among them.

Those 10 characteristics, rated

on a scale from the lowest to the highest, are as follows:

Number 10 Honesty. The most

successful among us generally believe that "honesty is the best policy"

and attempt to deal with others openly. They say what they think and they

keep their promises. They generally, contrary to what some may think,

are not liars or dishonest people. Part of the reason they have been able

to succeed is due to the fact that other people were able to take them

at their word.

Number 9 Respect. Those who

have achieved success have treated others with respect along the way.

They are known for treating their subordinates, superiors, and even strangers

with dignity and respect. They are not known for the arrogance or haughtiness

but for the courtesy they extend to others.

Number 8 They dare to be different.

Successful people are not afraid to be different from everybody else.

Rather than letting the group set the standard, successful people generally

chart their own course. In high school they were probably not the

students whining to their parents, "Please? Everybody else is doing

it!" They may not have been in the "in group" and weren't

concerned about it anyway.

Number 7 Focus. Successful

people have an ability to shut the unimportant out and focus on the task

at hand or on the future rewards. They have an uncanny ability to shut

out everything except what they believe matters. They are not easily distracted.

They are not easily discouraged by what others may think about things

either.

Number 6 Facts vs. emotions.

Successful people tend to make important decisions based on the facts

rather than on emotions. While some people make "gut decisions,"

or "snap judgments," the successful do the research, gather

the facts, and then decide on the best course of action. Once a decision

is made, they tend to believe that they have made the right decision and

do not second-guess the decision continually.

Number 5 Work. Successful people

are simply hard workers. They did not achieve their lofty status by accident

but by investing copious amount of hours and sweat. While others were

engaged in leisure pursuits, the successful people were working on their

dreams.

Number 4 Education. Not all

successful people were outstanding students; neither do all successful

people have college degrees. But a key trait of successful people is that

they are lifelong learners. They just never stop learning. They may read

a great deal, or attend seminars, or listen to tapes, or read tremendous

amounts of literature, but they refuse to be satisfied with what they

currently know.

Number 3 Action. Successful

people are people of action. When a decision is called for, they make

it. They may or may not reach the decision quickly, but they will arrive

at it. When the decision is made, they generally stand by it. They may

even "do something even if it's wrong," but they will not be

immobilized by indecision or inaction. They will act!

Number 2 Goals. Successful

people are goal-oriented. They know where they want to go and set about

getting there. Successful people write their goals down and work at achieving

them. They are always on the move toward the goals and they are continually

setting new goals. If you ask them where they want to be in five years,

they will be able to tell you, often in great detail.

Number 1 Positive attitude.

The most significant and common characteristic among the successful is

that they are positive people with a positive outlook. They are not negative

thinkers or whiners. They are always seeing the best in people, always

looking toward the future with anticipation, and always believing that

tomorrow holds new and exciting possibilities. Even if something goes

wrong, successful people are able to see the good in the situation and

capitalize on it.

It is common knowledge that

most successful people have failed miserably somewhere along the line.

Yet, rather than see defeat as a permanent condition, these people were

able to see that, as Miss Scarlett said, "Tomorrow is a new day!"

and then plunge positively into the future.

It should be noted that not

all of the 10 characteristics are "inborn." Some, if not all,

can be learned and cultivated. But the message is clear success is no

accident. Success comes to those who are prepared for it and who are working

toward it. May you have a successful New Year filled with achievement

and happiness.

[Father David Epps is Rector

of Christ the King Church in Peachtree City. He may be contacted at [email protected],

or visit his website at www.ChristTheKingCEC.com.]