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8 traits of successful people - Richard St. John

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Ten years of research and 500 face-to-face-interviews led Richard St. John to a collection of eight common traits in successful leaders around the world.

When I started interviewing people, I was shy, scared, and full of self-doubt. But I pushed through it and did over 500 interviews. I met wonderful people, got inspired, and learned a lot. And what I discovered from the interviews has helped a lot of people. So I’d recommend doing some interviews yourself. You never know where it might take you… Name 5 people you know or admire in your community: a successful teacher, environmentalist, artist, engineer, dentist, police officer, CEO, etc. Pick one person, make contact, and ask for an interview. Most people are flattered you asked, and happy to help. Write down some questions you could ask. I usually start with one question: "What helped you succeed?" and go from there. Do the interview. Take notes or record what they say. It will be fun for both of you and you'll learn a lot. Summarize what helped them succeed and your conclusions.

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