Even though it may seem so sometimes from the outside, success is not something that comes overnight. So often success is attributed to talent, hard work, and luck. But in the end, the thing that actually brings success to life are great habits. Having a routine goes beyond talent to achieve long-term success. Habits are the cornerstone to progress, which in turn, can tick off your dreams and goals. The most successful people in the world are ardent promoters of a routine, whether it’s self-care or being bold and persistent. Here are some powerful habits that billionaires have followed to reach the peak of the mountain of success.
The road to success, more often than not, is a rocky one. There will be obstacles and challenges, but the key is to be persistent. In fact, it’s a sign of ambition. Most successful people are resilient, learning from their failures and bouncing back by persistently pursuing what they believe in. Industrialist and philanthropist Ratan Tata’s long and successful career is a testament to the very ideology of being ambitious and striving for excellence, despite all odds. The billionaire owes his success to being resolute and tenacious, despite the challenges. “Ups and downs in life are very important to keep us going, because a straight line even in an E.C.G. means we are not alive,” he had shared.
Instead of hitting that snooze button, hear us out. The best part about waking up early is that you get time for yourself. Whether it’s for squeezing in a workout, catching up on reading, meditating, or working on your hobby or passion project, if your main excuse for not doing any of the above is “I don’t have time,” then getting up just 30 minutes earlier than your usual time can help you do things that would make you feel better at the start of the day. Billionaire Mukesh Ambani, one of the most influential people in the world, is a strong proponent of starting his day early, waking up as early as 5.30 a.m. to get in a workout, catch up with the news, and have a hearty breakfast before heading off to work.
One of the easiest and inexpensive ways to gain knowledge and learn something new is through the act of reading. It’s the fastest way to become healthy, wealthy and wise, improving your life and enhancing your life. Reading does not mean to read 100 books a year. Just reading a page or two a day, on topics that you actually are interested in, can open your mind and even improve focus. Billionaire Bill Gates is one of the entrepreneurs who has openly spoken about his love for reading. If you don’t have time during the day, try Gates’s rule of reading before bedtime. “If you read books you want to sit down an hour at a time. Every night I’m reading, I’m reading a little bit over an hour so I can take my current book and make some progress,” he said in an interview. If that’s difficult, then get a book on your phone and instead of scrolling through Instagram before bed, read a page of a book from your device.
You probably don’t want to read another piece about the benefits that daily physical activities can have on not just your body, but also your mind, lifestyle and productivity. It’s a proven fact that regular exercise helps boost energy levels and enhance your mood. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg is a big proponent of self-care in the form of physical activity. In a conversation with Joe Rogan for his podcast, Zuckerberg said that he liked exercises that required full focus to take his mind off work. The billionaire works out for an hour each morning to deal with work-related stress. Apart from running and surfing, Zuckerberg swears by MMA workouts. “What's a thing that's both super engaging physically, but also intellectually, where you can't afford to focus on something else? MMA is the perfect thing because if you stop paying attention for one second, you're going to end up on the bottom,” he said.
Most often we think of taking risks as almost being synonymous with recklessness or gambling. But doing something that is bold and outside your comfort zone can give higher rewards than being safe, especially when it comes to your professional life. If you want success, be open to taking risks. Successful people across the world have made it big due to the calculated risks they took and by persisting in it. Take Elon Musk for example. The founder of SpaceX took a bold risk of acquiring Twitter and rebranding the social media platform to X. At the USC Marshall School of Business, entrepreneur Elon Musk spoke about making bolder choices in life, especially if you are young and starting out and don’t have responsibilities. “As you get older, your obligations increase,” Musk said. “So I would encourage you to take risks now, to do something bold, you won’t regret it.”
Learning how to multitask is an important skill to build and develop, not just at work, but also in your personal life. Following different interests and working towards them, apart from having a professional career and family, can make you feel more fulfilled and satisfied about life. It can also prevent you from having burnout in one area by having different passions to alternate with. In an interview with Vogue, Nykaa founder Falguni Nayyar spoke about finding balance in juggling different passions. “I’ve always believed in balance, but I also believe in passion—towards your work and family. Have four to five priorities in life and let work be reasonably high. I tell a lot of women you can achieve a work-life balance by juggling. When something is important, do it,” she said.
It’s easy to get caught up in yourself and think that the world revolves around you and your bubble. But to understand the world better you have to be a part of it, a part of a community. Even if it’s helping out at a dog shelter once a month or donating your old clothes to those who are less fortunate, giving back not only keeps you grounded but also adds purpose to your existence. Oprah Winfrey once said: “You can have anything you want if you’re willing to give up everything you have.” The American talk show host, who had humble beginnings, is one of the richest and most influential people in the world. Winfrey is also passionate about giving back to the community and has helmed a number of charity organisations & causes to bring positive change in other people’s lives.
