10 Surprising Signs You’re More Successful Than You Realize

Author: Christina Drury
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Success is a subjective subject. Many people have different measures and goals they want to reach before they consider themselves successful.

However, it’s easy to overlook success when you have tunnel vision. In other words, you’re so focused on what you haven’t achieved yet, you forget to take time and appreciate what you have.

According to leadership and success expert Scott Mautz, and other experts, here are some signs you should look for.

1. Appreciating What You Have

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It’s easy to get lost in the quest for more. More shiny gadgets, more money, more promotions, just more. So often, while we’re looking forward, we fail to see what’s right in front of us.

But this is where it’s important to take a step back from the constant push for more and realize that we need to be grateful for what we have and what we’ve achieved in the here and now. That’s one of the cornerstones of success, being able to recognize how far we’ve come and celebrate that.

2. Putting in the Work

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One of the measures of success that people don’t really talk about is the effort you put in. It’s not something everyone does.

And by putting in the work, you’re ensuring that when opportunities come your way, you’re ready to take them on. And you know what that means … more success.

3. Focusing Solely on Your Goals

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It’s very easy to get distracted on the pathway to your goals. Many people often see what others are achieving and try to take on too much.

Instead of letting others dictate your path, determine what your goals and are work toward them. When you drown out the noise around you, you can consider yourself successful.

4. Living Your Values

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What does it mean to live your values? It means to remain true to who you are, to stay disciplined, even when it’s difficult. Prioritizing what’s important to you and preserving your character.

If you resist being pulled off center in your life, in your quest to succeed, you’ve already made it.

5. Making Improvement a Priority

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We all have room to grow. We’re all works in progress. That’s something to keep in mind because when we start believing we’re perfect, that’s when forward progress stops.

Another thing to do is evaluate your current lifestyle and habits. What’s working for you? What’s not? Keep the successful elements and discard the rest.

6. Fostering a Growth Mindset

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It’s very easy to become complacent and decide we’ve reached a good spot in our careers, our lives, or our relationships. But, there’s always growth to be had.

Take a deep look at these aspects and contemplate if there’s a way forward, a way to grow. Fostering this mindset will not only make you successful, it will make you happier.

7. Embracing Your Failures

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Mistakes are a fact of life. It’s how we grow as people. In the same vein, failures happen. Perhaps a business didn’t take off as well as you’d hoped. Maybe you even had to close down.

But, what can you learn from those failures? How can you take the lessons from that experience and use it to succeed in the future? Failure doesn’t mean it’s over. That happens when you completely give up.

8. Maintaining a Positive Outlook

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Coming on the heels of embracing your failures, it can be difficult to maintain a positive outlook, but it’s the key to moving forward.

Maintaining a positive outlook can actually help change your perspective. Instead of focusing on what’s going wrong, for example, focus on what you’re doing right. Then, figure out how you could use that as forward momentum.

9. Helping Others

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Helping others is a great way to measure your success, because it means you’re willing to help others grow as you are.

Extending a helping hand, whether it’s listening to someone who needs a sounding board or helping a stranger, is a great way to boost both of your happiness.

10. Having a Good Support System

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Believe it or not, if you’re surrounded by good people who support you day in and out, you have hit a successful milestone. This is not something you can measure in terms of finances, nor should it be.

There’s a lot of wealth to be found in having family and friends who love and support you, and vice versa.

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