There are many books about managers in leadership positions, entrepreneurship, and starting a business. They all focus on numbers, success, and the good life. However, few discuss the people behind these achievements, who often accomplish incredible things that are hard to imagine.
I'm not one to play the "huge motivator". I have never read a motivational book, nor do I watch motivational videos on YouTube, of which there are thousands. They're almost worthless when it comes to true success.
I strongly believe that motivation is only a small piece of business success. There are definitely far more important factors that make success possible. However, motivation will always play a supporting role, helping to fuel persistence and consistency when challenges arise.
The truly successful people always pursue a goal that is driven by meaning and purpose.
Truly successful people and entrepreneurship do not chase money. They find fulfillment in the creative process, working to build something they can be proud of.
The main goal of many successful entrepreneurs is to create something meaningful, guided by their passion, vision, and inner drive.
They strive to make the world a better place, finding joy in making their customers happy with their work. At the end of the day, they rest easy with a clear conscience, knowing their efforts have made a positive impact.
Let's examine the characteristics of successful and unsuccessful people so you can better evaluate where you stand and identify areas for improvement in order to achieve greater success overall. The character of a person plays a crucial role in determining the success of any business.
The character of a successful person
People who achieve incredible things in their lives are characterized by certain traits. They are...
- ...purpose- and utility-oriented. They are driven by doing meaningful work and fulfilling a purpose rather than chasing big money. Money is always secondary to them, and their dedication and passion always come first.
- ...calm and collected. You won't see them running around the streets like crazy to sell anything, not even on the internet. They prefer to take their time and develop a strategy that fits their business and vision.
- ...able to accept failure. Real business people know that there can be no success without failure. That's why they simply accept every failure and carry on as before.
- ...always productive. They are always active and work until they feel mentally or physically tired. You can literally see that they are passionate about their work and doggedly pursue their goals.
- ...focused at work. Successful business people are extremely focused and only work on one task at a time. Hardly anything can distract them from their work and tear them away from their deep focus.
- ...always ready to give. Meet real business people and observe how much they like to give. They'll take you out to a restaurant, put the best wine on the table at their house, and call a cab for you.
It takes a lot of discipline, work and reprogramming of the mind to become a true self-employed and entrepreneur, and very few people make that effort — that's why most people are employed, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
The character of an unsuccessful person
Now that we know the characteristics of a successful person, let's look at those who don't fit this profile. They either need to change their attitude urgently or would be better off as average employees.
Such people...
- ...hate problems. Anyone who hates problems will have great difficulties with their own business. Problems only show you that you're on the right track and just need to fix a few mistakes to get ahead. Problems are not there to annoy us, they help us grow — they are our best teachers!
- ...love to moan. People who like to complain and moan about everything are not good problem solvers. But that's exactly what you need to be if you want to build a successful business. Whiners don't have what it takes to be successful business people.
- ...can't admit mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, even people in management positions. People who can't admit such mistakes don't take responsibility for them and can't take appropriate action and grow.
- ...do not take responsibility. Self-employed people sometimes have to take on a lot of responsibility, especially when they make important decisions that affect the company and its future. Those who can't take responsibility or are happy to pass it on to others are not truly self-employed.
- ...are not reliable. Reliability is the be-all and end-all in business, especially in a management position. Anyone who can't show up an hour early for a meeting, is always late or doesn't keep their promises has no place in business.
- ...are undisciplined. Discipline is a very important skill to acquire. Whether you have to work productively or do tasks you don't feel like doing, a true self-employed person will just sit down, roll up their sleeves and get to work.
You see the main difference?
Successful people are doers who are willing to take risks in order to win. Once they set a goal, they develop strong routines and discipline to make it happen. Unsuccessful people never get this far; they stop before making the first important decision.
Unsuccessful people often never start. They learn, think, and evaluate risks, but never take real action. This passive attitude costs them valuable practical experience gained through action and learning from results, and it greatly reduces their chances of success.
How many businesses actually fail?
It's difficult to predict whether a business idea will be successful. Believing that an idea has the potential to be great is not enough.
The reality is quite different...
Many businesses don't survive after five years. It's a solid statistic, as I almost failed with my own online business around the fifth year, in 2014. I can personally confirm that you need to survive more than five years in business to be considered successful.
I then started investing a lot of time and money in self-development. This was crucial for my success later on, as I know today. I worked on my characteristics, started setting goals and deadlines, and focused on as few projects as possible to reduce noise.
In my case, that was the turning point from failure to success.
Conclusion
Success in business is rarely the result of luck alone. True entrepreneurs understand this, which is why they prioritize self-development first, rather than relying on chance.
It is shaped by mindset, behavior, and consistent action over time. Successful people tend to set clear goals, take responsibility for their decisions, and remain committed even when results are uncertain.
They understand that progress comes from doing, learning, and adjusting along the way.
Another defining difference is how successful individuals respond to risk and failure. Rather than avoiding risk entirely, they manage it thoughtfully and view setbacks as opportunities to gain experience.
Unsuccessful people in business often struggle not because of a lack of ability, but because of inaction. Overthinking, fear of failure, and constant evaluation without execution prevent them from gaining practical experience.
Who do you want to be?
Which characteristics align with successful people, and which with unsuccessful ones? Discover this, and begin developing the traits that lead to greater success in life overall.