What are the secrets of successful people. Is there a magic formula for success? Well there are definitely some traits that successful people share, and here are five of them.

1 Don’t fly solo.

Harnessing the goodwill and expertise of others is an essential part of being successful. Always look at how you can help others without there being any direct pay back. This spirit goes a long way and it also feels good. I had a friend who received an email recently from someone who she had gone to great lengths to support when he was starting out. He has always remembered her kindness and to this day recommends her to others inviting her to events, golf days and so on. Being a team player, supporting the collective good, giving back are key elements in success.

“No-one ever became poor by giving” – Anne Frank

2 Surround yourself with people who know more than you

There’s the saying ‘birds of a feather flock together’ – we’re often drawn to people who are like us. This is something we need to break free from. We need people who we can learn from, who see the world differently, who challenge our thinking. Successful people surround themselves with people who are smarter than they are – in certain areas. In this kind of environment we question, we learn and we develop new ways of thinking, doing and being. Successful people are life-long learners they know they are always works in progress, never the finished article.

“If you are the smartest person in the room then you are in the wrong room” anon

3 Celebrate the success of others

Anything less is simply a poverty mindset; it’s a belief that there is not enough to go round that someone else’s success means they are somehow depriving you. By being genuinely pleased for others as they succeed has a totally different energy – it’s expanding and allows us to think about how we too can be successful. Seeing others succeed demonstrates that we can succeed too. Cultivate this attitude, it’s liberating.

“We rise by lifting others”

4 Spread positivity wherever you go

Do you light up the room when you enter or when you leave it? We are drawn to people who feel good to be around; they are like magnets. People remember how you make them feel. When you are positive your brain actually works differently, research has shown that you are open to more possibilities that you are more creative so more likely to spot opportunities or find solutions to problems. Add that to the fact that people want to be around you and are more likely to cooperate with you then developing a positive approach to life is key in being successsful.

“Your vibe attracts your tribe” – anon

5 Motivation

Being motivated is easy when we are feeling energised and starting out on a path. Staying motivated is another matter. It requires commitment, drive, and determination.   Loving what you do makes a huge difference in staying motivated when you have a set back. And what is failure anyway – it’s actually where you do your learning. Understanding that set backs are a part of the journey helps us to frame them as necessary parts of the process on the path to success. Staying motivated is important, simple behaviours such as enough sleep, exercise, stepping back and engaging in some unrelated activity, socialising and spending time with loved ones is often all that is needed to refuel.

‘It always seems impossible until it’s done’ – Nelson Mandela