IYO, what is the #1 driver of professional success? - Page 6

I voted "other." I think the number one driver of professional success is positive thinking.

So Piobaire your vote is for hard work? Some other factor?

I like that one. I was thinking confidence, but that could be a subset of positive thinking.

To me, the number one driver of success - which admittedly is somewhat circular - is the intelligence in becoming succesful, that is for the most part, the ability to make the right connections and portray the best image. Connections will get you from one place to another, naturally, and how you present yourself to the world - regardless of whether it's embedded in truth or lies so long as nobodys the wiser - for the most part determines how succesful you are with these connections. I wouldn't be surprised if most successful people have worked less than their peers, as they'd have no reason to work as hard if they knew how to manipulate the system to get the same image across. Obviously, luck is also a big part and the reason for many careers, but you've got to be in the running to win the lottery and I think part of the intelligence in becoming succesful is knowing this and putting yourself in every possible opportunity to get lucky. Luck favors those with a plan.

Yep, add my vote for confident thinking.

If you have to narrow it down to one? Punctuality... literally, just *being on time*.

Being on time for meetings, actually delivering by the date or time promised, following up with people when you've said you would. It's surprising how few people are actually punctual.

Think: when was the last time you were impressed because someone was 15 minutes late to a meeting, or emailed you with some kind of excuse about how a project would be delayed? Would you hire someone who was late to a job interview? (I wouldn't - that's one of my automatic disqualifiers.) Punctuality is the very bedrock of simple professionalism.

DH

positive thinking is absurd. i wasn't able to buy a yacht because i blindly thought to myself i will have 1.

You're doing it wrong. You weren't able to buy a yacht because, while blindly thinking to yourself that you will have one, you didn't actually believe that you would.

The idea behind why positive thinking works is based largely on the principles of self-fulfilling prophecies. The more you think that something is achievable, the more likely you are to recognize and seize opportunities that actually lead you to making it happen.

money + toys
not being limited by money

+1, having the right connects.

+1 I think this is important in most aspects of life. One of my friends is just one of those people who knows exactly what to say at the right time and I think its quit helpful. I'm one of those people who sometimes is right on with it and sometimes I'm just drawing a blank.

Being really fucking good at what you do is another aspect, something beyond personality.

Something I've noticed with some of the most successful people that I've met in my life are that they're personable, they're extremely bright and they have a personal drive that just keeps them wanting to improve.

I will tell you after I achieve some of it.

For now, I will say it's having a good golf handicap.

CEO pay correlates stronger to golf handicap than it does to the company's performance.

The problem is that you associate CEO professional success with pay not company performance...

I think to each his own, but a few of the things mentioned are probably constant.

I know for sure that parents/family may not always play such a huge role. My parents have always preached hard work, dedication, etc., but my older brother has not always been such a hard worker, especially when it comes to school. I'll be the last to admit it, but he is much smarter than me and school has always been easy for him. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, hard work isn't really needed for him to be successful, at least in school.

Luck is also pretty important I guess.

Ninety-nine times out of hundred, I would say that the #1 driver of professional success is this: Being able to apply a skill that makes other people money. ~ H