- Study of Success : Leo has a personal interest in studying successful people, analyzing various materials including psychology texts, biographies, and histories to understand underlying patterns.
- Passion for Life : Successful people possess a passion beyond their work, deriving inspiration from many facets of life, which can be considered almost spiritual.
- Exceptional Work Ethic : They are extraordinarily hardworking to the point of seeming workaholic, understanding that enormous effort is essential for success.
- Persistence and Tolerance for Failure : Persistence is critical, as successful people continue striving in the face of repeated failures without taking them personally.
- Rule Breakers and Iconoclasts : Successful individuals tend to be rule breakers, thinking outside the box, and showing flexibility with societal norms.
- Cleverness and Manipulation : They often exhibit cleverness and the ability to navigate and manipulate systems and people to achieve their goals.
- Creativity Beyond Arts : Creativity in successful people is about the ability to create impactful concepts and projects, not just artistic imagination.
- Generators of Massive Value : They create substantial impact, affecting thousands to billions of people with their work or ideas.
- Technical Skills Mastery : Successful individuals are committed to mastering technical skills through deliberate practice, investing countless hours.
- Pursuit of Excellence : They prioritize excellence, taking pride in exceptional work, and distinguishing themselves from average performances.
- Visionaries with Leader Attributes : Successful people are visionaries with a clear concept of the future and are natural leaders, carving their own path.
- Guided by Intuition : They rely on intuition, often making strategic decisions based on gut feelings rather than solely on logic.
- Decisiveness : Successful individuals exhibit decisiveness, having a clear vision of what they want and making firm decisions towards their goals.
- Impact Over Money : Their primary motivation is the impact of their work and personal growth, with money being a secondary byproduct.
- Focus and Specialization : They maintain a strong focus on one domain for several years, unlike those who dabble and lack mastery due to insufficient focus.
- Ambition to Rise to the Top : Successful people have ambition driving them to be the best, competing with others who desire the same.
- Rapid Speed of Implementation : They act quickly on ideas, preventing analysis paralysis and prioritizing action.
- Bias towards action : Successful people act promptly on their ideas, avoiding the paralysis by analysis, in contrast to mediocre individuals who often overthink without tangible action.
- Opinionated with strong values and beliefs : They have firm opinions founded on clear values and beliefs, indicating decisiveness and a strong ideological foundation.
- Possessing a spine : They stand up for their ideas and beliefs rather than capitulating to the overriding opinions of institutions, media, or popular culture.
- Optimistic and hopeful : Even if they experience depression, successful people maintain a fundamental belief in themselves, the effectiveness of their peers, and the potential of society.
- Courage in the face of fear : Successful people act despite fear, not allowing it to prevent them from taking necessary steps towards their goals.
- Valuing knowledge and learning : They recognize the importance of learning and knowledge, understanding that these elements are crucial for mastering any field and achieving success.
- Willingness to make sacrifices : They are prepared to forgo certain pleasures such as socializing and entertainment, prioritizing long-term success over immediate gratification.
- Self-motivated : Successful individuals display intrinsic motivation, driving themselves to succeed without external incentives.
- Long-term thinking : They plan and strategize for the future, typically five to ten years ahead, to develop proficiency and excellence in their field.
- Pragmatism over idealism : Successful people prioritize practical approaches and results over abstract theories, adapting their ideologies to the real world to achieve their objectives.
- Advancing personal agenda : Regardless of whether they are self-employed or part of an organization, successful people focus on advancing their own goals rather than just the organization's.
- Self-improvement through self-actualization : Traits leading to success can be developed, and resources for self-improvement, like educational videos and books, are accessible for those seeking to enhance their potential.