Through our coaching work at Southwestern Consulting we get a rare chance to spend a lot of time around millionaires.

While many of them have made their money doing all sorts of different types of businesses, my observation is that almost all of them seem to share certain habits and attitudes.

There are certain principles that almost all of them follow but to some it could also seem confusing because they often times have what might on the surface seem to be competing philosophies, opposing principles, and conflicting beliefs.

Here is a short listing of some of them accompanied by an explanation and distinction of what might otherwise seem to be dichotomous habits.

Millionaires practice both:

Speed and Patience – They typically are highly efficient and have an extraordinary sense of urgency where they are intentional about every single second that they spend and how it is used.

Yet at the same time, at a more macro level, they are patient and know that accomplishing great things often takes a long time. So they work fast but they don’t get discouraged if big visions show up slow.

Generosity and Frugality – Contrary to what people often think, millionaires are usually very generous people where they give large amounts of money and time to help other people without expecting anything in return.

Yet they also seem to be very financially disciplined and prudent in the monetary spending and practices of their core business where they tightly manage expenses and scrutinize over budgets. They typically are not wasteful.

Exercise and Rest – You might think that what makes people rich is that all they do is work all the time and they have no time for anything else. But actually, very often wealthy people are also very healthy people. And frequently a crucial part of their daily practice includes physical exercise. Many of them believe that their physical prowess and mental prowess are connected.

But in addition to making time for physical activity almost all of them also are very deliberate and intentional about quiet time and solitude. I don’t think there is a single millionaire that I have ever met that doesn’t have some sort of regular routine that involves either prayer, meditation, reading, reviewing affirmations or all of the above.

Gratitude and Ambition – If I had to identify the number one most commonly shared habit, attribute, or daily practice of millionaires that I’ve personally observed it is that virtually almost all of them that talk about starting their day with some deliberate practice of gratitude. They set aside time to specifically say “thank you” for all that they have been given in their life. In their gratitude is a profound sense of peace and satisfaction.

Yet also almost all of them also have an insatiable hunger for growing, improving, and achieving the next level of success and contribution.

Control and Faith – Millionaires do the hard work it takes to be successful. They are relentless about focusing on the things they can control. They focus intensely on building strong work ethic, good work habits, taking action and being brilliant at the basics.

Yet at the same time they seem to be able to release themselves of the pressure, fear, and worry that comes with having to always know what the outcomes are going to be. They instead have a strong sense of faith that empowers them to act meanwhile not having to know the specifics of what will result.

Principled and Adaptability – I don’t think I’ve ever met a millionaire who wasn’t strong willed and personally convicted. These individuals typically are very confident and passionate about the philosophies that they have come to know as true and they are definitely principled people.

But they somehow still remain adaptable and humble to the idea that while principles don’t frequently change, practices often do. They know that technology and competition and evolution require themselves to be continually learning growing and improving.

While these various practices may appear to be conflicting and opposing on the surface, they are actually very complementary and clearly defined in the distinctive value that they provide to successful people.

So, if your goal is to one day be a millionaire, don’t just watch for the ways in which they are absolute but also in the ways in which they are nuanced.