For years, I wondered what made some people so wildly successful while others—like me—just seemed to tread water.

I wasn’t looking for overnight riches or fame. I just wanted to know what set high achievers apart. Was it talent? Luck? Some secret formula the rest of us didn’t know about?

Turns out, psychology has a lot to say about success. After diving deep into research and observing the habits of top performers, I discovered that highly successful people share a handful of core behaviors.

The best part? These behaviors aren’t reserved for the ultra-talented or privileged. They’re things anyone can adopt—including you.

In this article, I’ll break down seven key habits that almost all successful people have in common, backed by psychology. If you’re ready to take your personal and professional growth to the next level, let’s dive in.

1) They take responsibility for everything in their lives

One of the biggest mindset shifts I noticed in highly successful people is that they take full responsibility for their lives—no excuses, no blaming, no waiting for someone else to fix things.

Psychology backs this up: studies show that people with a strong sense of personal responsibility tend to be more successful because they focus on what they can control rather than what they can’t. They don’t waste time complaining about external factors—they find solutions and take action.

If you want to adopt this behavior, start by paying attention to your thoughts. When something goes wrong, do you immediately blame someone else or external circumstances?

Instead, try asking yourself: What can I do differently next time? This small shift in mindset can make a huge difference in your success.

2) They embrace failure as part of the process

For a long time, I was terrified of failure. I avoided risks, stuck to what felt safe, and beat myself up whenever things didn’t go perfectly. But looking back, that mindset was holding me back more than anything else.

The turning point came when I started writing online. At first, my articles barely got any attention. I’d spend hours crafting something only to see it get ignored. It was discouraging, and I almost gave up more times than I can count.

But instead of quitting, I kept going—learning from what didn’t work and improving with each attempt. Eventually, my writing started to gain traction, and now it’s turned into a full-time career.

Successful people don’t see failure as a dead end; they see it as feedback. If something doesn’t work, they adjust and try again. If you want to build this habit, start viewing your failures as lessons rather than setbacks. Ask yourself: What can I learn from this?

Once you shift your perspective, failure stops being something to fear and starts being something that fuels your growth.

3) They focus on consistency, not motivation

One of the biggest lessons I learned is that highly successful people don’t rely on motivation. They rely on consistency.

Success isn’t about working hard once in a while. It’s about showing up, day after day, even when you don’t feel like it. If you want to adopt this habit, start small.

Commit to doing something every day—whether it’s writing 200 words, exercising for 10 minutes, or reading a few pages of a book.

The more you build consistency, the less you’ll have to rely on fleeting motivation.

4) They set specific goals and make a plan

The power of specific goal-setting is instead of saying, “I want to get in shape,” I set a clear target: “I will work out for 30 minutes, five times a week.” Instead of saying, “I want to grow my blog,” I made a plan: “I will write one article every day for the next three months.”

Psychology backs this up. A famous study by Dr. Gail Matthews at Dominican University found that people who write down their goals are 42% more likely to achieve them compared to those who don’t.

The study also found that making a concrete plan and tracking progress significantly increases the chances of success.

Highly successful people don’t just hope for the best—they get clear on what they want and map out exactly how they’ll get there. If you want to apply this in your own life, start by writing down one specific goal today.

Then, break it into small, actionable steps. Success isn’t about wishful thinking—it’s about having a plan and following through.

5) They surround themselves with the right people

A few years ago, I started paying closer attention to the people in my life. Were they encouraging me to grow, or were they holding me back? Were they ambitious and driven, or were they constantly complaining and making excuses?

Once I made a conscious effort to spend more time around people who inspired me, my own mindset started to shift. 

Psychologists often talk about the “social contagion effect“—the idea that behaviors, emotions, and even thought patterns spread through social networks.

A study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that if you have a close friend who becomes obese, your chances of becoming obese increase by 57%.

The same principle applies to success: If you surround yourself with highly motivated and successful people, their habits and mindset will naturally influence you.

Seek out mentors, join communities of like-minded individuals, and be intentional about who you spend your time with—because the right environment can make all the difference.

6) They practice self-discipline, even when it’s hard

For the longest time, I struggled with self-discipline. I’d set goals, get excited for a few days, and then lose focus.

Whether it was sticking to a workout routine, building my business, or even just reading more, I kept falling into the same cycle—starting strong but giving up too soon.

Famed psychologist Angela Duckworth, who studied grit and self-control extensively, put it best: “As much as talent counts, effort counts twice.”

Highly successful people don’t rely on willpower alone—they build systems and routines that keep them on track. If you want to improve your self-discipline, start small.

Pick one habit you want to develop and commit to doing it daily—whether you feel like it or not. Over time, discipline turns into habit, and habit turns into success.

7) They know when to quit

We’re always told that successful people never give up—that they push through no matter what. But here’s the counterintuitive truth: highly successful people actually quit all the time.

I used to think that persistence meant sticking with everything I started, no matter what. But after years of chasing projects that weren’t working, I realized something important—success isn’t just about working hard; it’s about knowing where to put your effort.

The best entrepreneurs, athletes, and creatives aren’t afraid to walk away from things that drain their time and energy without real progress. Steve Jobs dropped out of college.

Here’s a practical way to apply this: Take stock of what you’re working on right now. Ask yourself: Is this truly moving me forward, or am I just afraid to let go?

If something isn’t bringing real progress or fulfillment, it might be time to pivot or quit altogether. Success isn’t just about grinding—it’s about making sure you’re grinding in the right direction.

Final thoughts

Success isn’t about luck or talent—it’s about the small, consistent actions you take every day.

If you want to start applying these behaviors, don’t try to change everything at once. Pick one habit from this list and focus on mastering it first. Maybe it’s setting clearer goals, building more discipline, or surrounding yourself with the right people.

The key is to take action. Knowledge is useless if you don’t use it. So pick a habit, start today, and keep going—even when it gets tough.

Success isn’t built overnight, but with the right behaviors, you’ll get there.