11 behaviors of people who are going places in life (even if it’s not obvious yet)

Have you ever thought about what it takes to be successful? Why do some people take life by its horns while others spin their wheels and never achieve anything noteworthy?

Well, today, we’re looking into the behaviors of people who are going places in life, even if it’s not obvious yet. 

From setting clear goals to staying persistent in the face of setbacks, these folks know what it takes to achieve things in life. 

So, if you want to learn a thing or two about being a go-getter, continue reading this article. Let’s begin!

1) They’re proactive and take the initiative

Well, first of all, ambitious people don’t sit on their asses all day scrolling social media. Most successful and up-and-coming people don’t have time for that (apparently, that’s reserved for the Elon Musks of this world).

People who are going places in life have a proactive approach by taking the lead in shaping their circumstances. 

Instead of waiting for opportunities, they actively seek ways to contribute, solve problems, and create positive change.

If you want to be truly successful in life, you need to be a forward thinker and even a visionary.

Above all, you need to continuously grow, not just as a person but as an aspiring leader.

2) Continuously grow

The rising stars are on an ongoing journey of self-improvement. They actively look for opportunities for learning, skill development, and personal growth in both their personal and professional lives.

If you want to be like them, you need to cultivate a genuine interest in understanding the world around you. 

Embrace a mindset of continual learning, staying open to new ideas and perspectives because curiosity fuels personal growth and a broader understanding of diverse outlooks.

3) Embrace challenges as opportunities to learn

Most people start doing something, but as soon as it gets hard or they hit a roadblock, they start pitying themselves and give up.

On the other hand, we have the trailblazers, who, even though they might not be successful yet, view challenges not as roadblocks but as chances to acquire new knowledge and skills.

For them, each difficulty is a stepping stone toward personal development that has valuable lessons in store.

4) Seek mentorship

One of the best and easiest ways to acquire new knowledge or improve yourself is to get a mentor. 

People who are going places often have mentors who guide them through the things they want to learn at that point.

In that sense, mentorship is extremely important if you want to 10x your knowledge or success. 

It’s like you’re going through a fast lane at the airport – you have an unfair advantage over the other travelers.

But why is that? It’s because a mentor has already been in your shoes. They’ve completed the journey that you’re now on, and they know what needs to be done in order to get to the finish line.

So, why not explore mentorship opportunities in areas where you seek guidance and advice? 

Learning from experienced people provides you with valuable insights and accelerates your personal and professional development.

5) Build and nurture meaningful relationships

Another important piece of the puzzle on the road to success is to build and nurture meaningful relationships. 

I’m not just talking about networking, although that is important. I’m talking about being genuinely interested in the people you encounter on the way and who can be beneficial in more ways than one.

Establish connections that go past surface-level interactions. Invest time and effort in growing relationships built on trust, shared experiences, and mutual support. 

natural leader 11 behaviors of people who are going places in life (even if it's not obvious yet)

6) Take responsibility for their actions

Go-getters own up to their decisions and actions, whether positive or negative. It wasn’t until I started being 100% behind my actions and behaviors that my life started turning around.

Only when I stopped blaming everyone else for the situation I was in did I start getting ahead in life.

That’s when I made a complete 180: I quit my dead-end job and started looking for better opportunities, even though I was scared shitless. 

I had to get out of my comfort zone and into the real world.

That meant going out of the frying pan and into the fire. But that also meant another thing – setting clear goals and working diligently towards them.

7) Set clear goals and work towards them

Setting clear goals isn’t some kind of big secret. Everyone knows they should set goals and stick with them.

So, why do so few people have any goals? More importantly, why do they only have general goals and not clear and meaningful, so-called SMART goals?

But those are questions for another article. All you need to know is that you need to define specific, achievable objectives for different aspects of your life. 

Having clear goals provides you with direction, motivation, and a sense of purpose. They guide your efforts toward continuous improvement.

But above all, you know exactly what your priorities are and what you should do in any given situation.

8) Adapt to change instead of resisting it

Apart from giving up too quickly, most people don’t know how or don’t want to adapt to change. They do all they can to resist it. 

New technologies are coming out all the time, yet many people are still stuck in the Stone Age.

Don’t get me wrong, I have nothing against that, but then you shouldn’t cry that you’re not achieving anything in life – that you’re not successful and aren’t going places.

Ambitious people keep up with the world. They make time to learn new things and improve their already vast knowledge.

So, develop a mindset that embraces change as a natural part of life. Instead of resisting, develop adaptability, recognizing that flexibility in the face of change enables a smoother transition and a more resilient approach to challenges.

When you’re confronted with obstacles, maintain determination and perseverance. Pivot if you must.

But also, be grateful for what you already have.

9) Practice gratitude for what they have

Another thing I’ve noticed about successful people and those who are going places is that they’re grateful and appreciative of all they have and what they’ve already achieved.

They cultivate an attitude of gratitude by regularly acknowledging and appreciating the positive aspects of life. 

For example, I’m grateful for my wonderful family and the fact that I have a job that I love and that helps me motivate and inspire other people.

We may not be wealthy, but we live a rich life. And although we’re working hard, we also have plenty of time to walk on the beach, sit in cafes, and enjoy the little things in life.

When you look at life like that, and you practice a positive mindset, resilience, and an increased capacity for handling life’s challenges, you’re definitely going places.

But have you ever wondered how some people manage five businesses while others barely hold onto one job? It’s all about time management and how you delegate tasks and people.

10) Manage their time effectively

Successful people develop time management skills to organize and prioritize tasks efficiently. 

Because they effectively manage their time, they have increased productivity, reduced stress, and the ability to allocate energy to activities that align with their goals.

That’s why Zuckerberg can spend a lot of time practicing jiu-jitsu, Bezos can spend time on his mega yacht, and Musk has time to destroy Twitter.

It’s all about effective time and people management.

11) Communicate assertively and listen actively

And lastly, proactive people and the go-getters of this world will go places because they know how to communicate assertively. They know how to bring their ideas across.

If you want to be in the same boat as them, you need to enhance your communication skills by expressing your thoughts and feelings clearly and with confidence. 

Simultaneously, you need to practice active listening. If you don’t listen to others and aren’t interested in their opinions, views, and problems, why would they be interested in yours?

Final thoughts

What separates the people who are going places in life from others is that they know exactly where they’re headed.

The issue many people who want to be successful have is that they aren’t looking at the road map. 

They have some vague concept of success but don’t have the exact layout or the steps needed to get there.

Can you imagine a bus driver just sitting in the driver’s seat and driving aimlessly? They would never arrive at their destination and would piss off all the passengers.

Picture of Adrian Volenik

Adrian Volenik

Adrian has years of experience in the field of personal development and building wealth. Both physical and spiritual. He has a deep understanding of the human mind and a passion for helping people enhance their lives. Adrian loves to share practical tips and insights that can help readers achieve their personal and professional goals. He has lived in several European countries and has now settled in Portugal with his family. When he’s not writing, he enjoys going to the beach, hiking, drinking sangria, and spending time with his wife and son.

Enhance your experience of Ideapod and join Tribe, our community of free thinkers and seekers.

Related articles

Most read articles

Get our articles

Ideapod news, articles, and resources, sent straight to your inbox every month.

0:00
0:00