Success isn’t about luck.
It’s about habits.
Over the years, I’ve noticed a few patterns among top performers in every industry, and these five signs are strong indicators that you’re on the right path.
If you’re willing to develop these traits, you will be ahead of the curve.
1. You Study While Others Party
This one goes all the way back to school, but it still holds true in life: the people who study are the ones who succeed.
The unfortunate reality is that most people stop learning after they graduate.
They don’t pick up another book.
They don’t seek out new knowledge.
But successful people never stop learning.
They read, they attend conferences, they ask questions, and they surround themselves with other high achievers.
They understand that growth doesn’t stop just because school is over.
If you want to be successful, ask yourself: Are you prioritizing learning while others are prioritizing entertainment?
2. You Work While Others Complain
Every single successful person has had to overcome obstacles.
No one gets a free pass in life.
There will always be challenges—financial struggles, difficult people, unexpected events.
The difference?
Successful people don’t waste time complaining.
Complaining doesn’t put money in your bank account.
It doesn’t improve your situation.
All it does is steal time and energy.
Instead of dwelling on what’s wrong, focus on what you can do.
Move forward.
Take action.
The more time you spend working while others are complaining, the further ahead you’ll be.
3. You’re Willing to Take Less in the Beginning
This might be the hardest pill to swallow.
We all want to get paid what we’re worth right now.
But that’s not how success works.
Every highly successful person has a story of working for less than they deserved at the start.
They took on the jobs no one else wanted.
They put in extra hours when no one was watching.
And they weren’t entitled—they understood that paying their dues would lead to bigger opportunities down the road.
If you’re only willing to work when the pay is “fair,” you’re limiting yourself.
Success comes to those who see the bigger picture, those who understand that the temporary sacrifice is worth the long-term gain.
4. You Overdeliver on Expectations
The people who rise to the top in any field don’t just meet expectations.
They exceed them.
They go above and beyond for their clients, their bosses, their families, and their teams.
Why?
Because when you overdeliver, you stand out.
You create raving fans.
You build a reputation for excellence.
The question isn’t “How can I do the bare minimum?”
It should be, “How can I exceed expectations so much that people can’t help but talk about me?”
Overdelivering isn’t always “fair,” but it’s what sets successful people apart.
5. You Deliver Results Faster Than Everyone Else
People will always pay for speed.
If you can deliver the same results in half the time, you’ll always have an advantage.
Success is about working efficiently.
How can you get better, faster?
How can you leverage tools like AI, mentorship, or new technology to increase your speed?
It comes down to this foundational principle: money follows speed.
The quicker you can solve problems, the more valuable you become.
Do You Have These Five Traits?
Most people won’t embrace these principles.
They’ll say, “That sounds hard,” and go back to doing what’s easy.
And that’s exactly why most people are average.
If you develop these five habits, your success is inevitable:
✔ Study while others party
✔ Work while others complain
✔ Take less than what you deserve at the start
✔ Overdeliver on expectations
✔ Deliver results faster than everyone else
Five years from now, if you commit to these principles, I promise you’ll be ahead of 99% of the people around you.
Want to go deeper? Click here to get access to my “High Earner Habits” training for free and find out the 7 habits that set high-earners apart from the rest.
