--- title: 8 Things The World’s Most Successful People All Have in Common description: I’ve posted a lot about the strategies of very successful people: artists, scientists, business leaders… Looking back, what patterns do we see? Busy Busy Daily... canonical: https://time.com/12670/8-things-the-worlds-most-successful-people-all-have-in-common/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2014-03-05T05:01:44.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-07-09T08:20:01.583Z article:section: Ideas og:title: 8 Things The World’s Most Successful People All Have in Common og:description: I’ve posted a lot about the strategies of very successful people: artists, scientists, business leaders… Looking back, what patterns do we see? Busy Busy Daily... og:url: https://time.com/12670/8-things-the-worlds-most-successful-people-all-have-in-common/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7918224a7448c096/698683ef36176010b290abdb/hard-workers.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1500 og:image:height: 844 og:image:alt: 8 Things The World’s Most Successful People All Have in Common og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: 8 Things The World’s Most Successful People All Have in Common twitter:description: I’ve posted a lot about the strategies of very successful people: artists, scientists, business leaders… Looking back, what patterns do we see? Busy Busy Daily... twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt7918224a7448c096/698683ef36176010b290abdb/hard-workers.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # 8 Things The World’s Most Successful People All Have in Common > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: August 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. 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There is no cost and no subscription requirement. by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Mar 5, 2014 5:01 AM UTC  Close up of An office Building at Night With Business Executives Working Late Close up of An office Building at Night With Business Executives Working Late Cocoon/Getty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Mar 5, 2014 5:01 AM UTC I’ve posted a lot about the [strategies of very successful people](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/05/genius-work-habits/): artists, scientists, business leaders… Looking back, what patterns do we see? ## Busy Busy [Daily Rituals: How Artists Work](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307273601/?tag=spacforrent-20), examines the work habits of over 150 of the greatest writers, artists and scientists. **What did they all have in common? A relentless pace of work.** Via [Daily Rituals: How Artists Work](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307273601/?tag=spacforrent-20) --- > “” --- What did [Stanford professor Jeffrey Pfeffer](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-stanford-mba-school-professor-teaches-secret-promotions-raises-power/) find when he [looked at high achievers](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/08/keys-to-success/) like [LBJ](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0679729453/?tag=spacforrent-20) and [Robert Moses](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0394720245/?tag=spacforrent-20)? **60-65 hour work weeks were not uncommon.** Via [Managing With Power: Politics and Influence in Organizations](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0875844405/?tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- When Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi studied geniuses for his book [Creativity](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TG1X9C/?tag=spacforrent-20), he realized something fascinating about IQ. No one who changed the world had an IQ under 130 — but the difference between 130 and 170 was negligible. **As long as you were past the 130 IQ threshold, it was all about how hard you worked.** (More on the work habits of geniuses [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/05/genius-work-habits/).) ## Just Say No Warren Buffett once said: --- > “” --- And that’s what gives them the time to accomplish so much. **In** [**Creativity**](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TG1X9C/?tag=spacforrent-20)**, Csikszentmihalyi makes note of the number of high achievers who declined his request to be in the book.** Why did they say no? **They were too busy with their own projects to help him with his.** Achievement requires focus. And focus means saying “no” to a lot of distractions. ## Know What You Are In his classic essay [Managing Oneself](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1422133443/?tag=spacforrent-20), [Pete Drucker](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/06/how-can-we-keep-improving/) is very clear: **ignore your weaknesses and keep improving your strengths.** --- > “” --- This means knowing who you are, what you are and what you are good at. Harvard professor [Gautam Mukunda](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/03/interview-harvard-business-school-professor-gautam-mukunda-teaches-secrets-leader/), author of [Indispensable: When Leaders Really Matter](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1422186709/?tag=spacforrent-20), says this is key for leaders: --- > “” --- (More on knowing your strengths [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/how-to-find-your-passion-in-life/).) ## Build Networks **Nobody at the top of the heap goes it alone. And those at the center of networks benefit the most.** [Paul Erdos](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/erdos/) is the undeniable center of the mathematics world. Ever heard of “six degrees of Kevin Bacon”? Paul Erdos is the Kevin Bacon of math. This is no exaggeration. In fact, it’s barely a metaphor — it’s just _fact_. How did he become the center of the math world? **He was a** [**giver**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-wharton-business-school-professor-teaches-approach-give/)**.** I’ve posted [a lot about networking](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/05/how-to-network/) and as great networkers like [Adam Rifkin](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/02/interview-silicon-valleys-networker-teaches-secrets-making-connections/) advise, Paul Erdos gave to others. He made those around him better. Via [The Man Who Loved Only Numbers: The Story of Paul Erdos and the Search for Mathematical Truth](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0786884061/?tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- (More on networking [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/05/how-to-network/).) ## Create Good Luck Luck isn’t magical — [there’s a science to it](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/12/www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/increase-luck/). Richard Wiseman studied lucky people for his book [Luck Factor](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0099443244/?tag=spacforrent-20), and broke down what they do right. **Certain personality types are luckier because they behave in a way that maximizes the chance for good opportunities.** **By being more outgoing, open to new ideas, following hunches, and being optimistic, lucky people create possibilities.** Does applying these principles to your life actually work? Wiseman created a “luck school” to test the ideas — and it was a success. Via [Luck Factor](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0099443244/?tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- (More about creating luck [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/10/increase-luck/).) ## Have Grit Intelligence and creativity are great but you can’t quit when the going gets tough if you really want to accomplish anything big. **That’s** **_grit_** **. Perseverance. And it’s one of the best predictors of success there is.** Via Dan Pink’s excellent book [Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594484805/?tag=spacforrent-20). --- > “” --- Researchers have found that grit exists apart from IQ and is [**_more predictive of success than IQ_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/secret-success-not-giving-up/) **in a variety of challenging environments:** --- > “” --- Howard Gardner studied some of the greatest geniuses of all time. One quality they all had in common sounds an awful lot like grit. Via [Creating Minds: An Anatomy of Creativity Seen Through the Lives of Freud, Einstein, Picasso, Stravinsky, Eliot, Graham, and Ghandi](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465027741/?tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- Here’s Angela Duckworth giving a TED talk on grit: (More on how to be “grittier” [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/11/secret-success-not-giving-up/).) ## Make Awesome Mistakes **Failure is essential.** Losers like to hear that because it makes them feel better about their past mistakes. Winners use it to _go make more mistakes they can learn from._ **Always be experimenting.** In his excellent book [Little Bets](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0043RSJTU/?tag=spacforrent-20), [Peter Sims](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/peter-sims/)explains the system used by all the greats: --- > “” --- **You must** [**wrestle with your ideas**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/strokes-of-genius/)**.** Dissect, combine, add, subtract, turn them upside down and shake them. [Get ideas colliding](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/07/is-a-more-disorganized-brain-a-more-creative/). Via [Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BG62E9C/?tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- How do you start? Do like the greats and [keep a notebook](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/personal-writing/). (More on the creative process used by experts [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/peter-sims/).) ## Find Mentors You cannot go it alone. It can be hard to learn from books. And the internet makes it difficult to separate truth from fiction. **You need someone who has been there to show you the ropes. A Yoda. A Mister Miyagi.** Yes, 10K hours of [deliberate practice](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/01/checklist-best/) can make you an expert but _what makes you dedicate 10K hours to something in the first place?_ **As** [**Adam Grant of Wharton explains**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/04/interview-wharton-business-school-professor-teaches-approach-give/)**, the answer is great mentors:** --- > “” --- (More on finding the best mentor for you [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/02/find-best-mentor/).) ## Sum Up Eight things you can do to be like the best: 1. **Stay Busy** 2. **Just Say No** 3. **Know What You Are** 4. **Build Networks** 5. **Create Good Luck** 6. **Have Grit** 7. **Make Awesome Mistakes** 8. **Find Mentors** What’s the easiest way to get started? Go [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/make-your-life-better/). **Join 45K+ readers.** Get a free weekly update via email [here](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD). Related posts: [What 10 things should you do every day to improve your life?](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/what-10-things-should-you-do-every-day-to-imp/) [Here are the things that are proven to make you happier ](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/08/here-are-the-things-that-are-proven-to-make-y/) [How To Make Your Life Better By Sending Five Simple Emails](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/make-your-life-better/) _This piece originally appeared on_ [_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/12/successful-people/)_._ ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/12670/8-things-the-worlds-most-successful-people-all-have-in-common/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/12670/8-things-the-worlds-most-successful-people-all-have-in-common/"},"headline":"8 Things The World’s Most Successful People All Have in Common","datePublished":"2014-03-05T05:01:44.000Z","dateModified":"2026-07-09T08:20:01.583Z","description":"I’ve posted a lot about the strategies of very successful people: artists, scientists, business leaders… Looking back, what patterns do we see? 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