When most people talk about acquiring wealth, money is usually the main focus of the conversation. How can I save more money? How can I spend less money? How can I better manage the money I have? While all of these things are certainly important points for consideration, the truth is that becoming rich has a lot less to do with money than most people realize.
I’ve interviewed millionaires all over the world, and what you might be surprised to know is that most of them aren’t as money focused as you would expect. Sure, it’s important and they think about it, but when it comes to the success they’ve had, they talk more about things like mindset, attitude, vision, belief, self-growth, confidence and continued learning. The bottom line: getting rich is not all about money.
More specifically, here are 10 things self-made millionaires focus their energy on that makes them successful:
They are visionary
You need to be able to see the future long before it arrives. In other words, you have to know what you want, why you want it and what you’re willing to do to get it. Don’t just take each day as it comes. Instead, have a plan. Being visionary keeps you focused on where you’re going and eliminates procrastination in performance and hesitation in decision-making.
They compartmentalize their emotions
Your ability to control your emotions when it counts will play a major role in your success. Strong feelings of anger, jealously, exuberance, despair and others have the power to interfere with your ability to think clearly and make good decisions. They key to control is placing your emotions in psychological compartments, which means blocking them out temporarily so you can focus on the core of what’s being said or done so you can respond appropriately.
They simplify everything
Life is complex. People are complex. The world is complex. Your job is to simplify everything you can and focus on what’s important. Decide what you want, concentrate on it to the exclusion of (almost) everything else, and embrace the challenge of attaining it. If you looked at a car engine as a whole it may seem complicated. Break it up one part at a time and it’s simple. The point is everything can be broken down to its root cause, and that makes every problem easier to solve.
They associate with winners
They become a learning machine
Learning and growing are the essence of the good life. It means you are always moving forward and never looking back. The centerpiece of your education should be reading, listening, watching educational programming, attending personal and professional development seminars and workshops, studying with mentors, traveling the world, and becoming a student observer of success, life and living.
They are at peace with themselves
They focus on results
They are congruent
They are curious
Curiosity is one of the little-known traits of successful people, and the reason is simple: The more curiosity you exhibit, the more you can learn. Express your curiosity by asking questions, actively listening and asking follow up questions. Whatever you learn from other people can guide you toward success or it can be a cautionary tale. Either way, you will learn and grow.