What are the attributes for Success?

By Christine Perkett

I asked each of these amazing women just one question: What’s the #1 attribute that helped you get where you are in your career? Here are their inspiring answers. Please feel free to add your own in the comments!

Aliza Sherman, Web Pioneer, Speaker and Author: A sense of adventure

Early on in my career, my dad instilled in me that I could do or be anything and to not feel trapped in any job. I’ve changed jobs or careers often and always look at them as new adventures. Whenever I have a fear of making a change, I repeat my personal mantra: “Life is Short. Do What You Love.” This fuels every life adventure, from driving cross country for a year in an old RV to reinventing my business every few years. Still on my list: mystery writer and private investigator. I encourage others to be courageous!

Amy Black, Singer/Songwriter: Tenacity

For better or for worse, I’ve always been someone who grabs hold of an idea or desire and doesn’t let go easily. This tenacity has come in handy when it comes to pursuing a career in music. Every day it’s key that I hold on tightly to the vision of the career I ultimately want to have. It’s like when a bulldog latches onto a stick — you aren’t going to get it out if his mouth without prying his jaw open first – and good luck with that!

Ann Handley, Author (Content Rules) and Chief Content Officer, MarketingProfs: Learning to write

When I was in college, one of my professors told me that those who succeed know how to write well.

Why: Those who can write well successfully get their ideas across in a clear, accessible manner… without wasting everyone’s time.

I took that to heart, and I learned how to write well by focusing less on self-expression and more on the person I wanted to reach — in other words, the reader (or the audience).

The subtle shift has been a tremendous asset to me in my career. For those who think “writing” doesn’t matter… well, I’ll take anyone down on that point!

Diane Hessan, Chairman, Communispace:  Physical Energy.

I can get up earlier and stay up later than everyone else, and it has helped me enormously in my career – from global travel to just getting the sheer volume of work done!

Jill Janssen, Director, PwC: Patience, sacrifice and choosing my battles

I think it’s a combination of personality traits that have helped me to succeed. Not only hard work – but patience, sacrifice and choosing my battles have all helped me to reach the point in my career to which I aspired, in a company I admired.

Katelyn Gleason, CEO & Cofounder of Eligible: Being relentless

Without being willing to fail and continually get back
again, I would never have been able to find the right market and establish my product within it.

Kelly Manthey, VP Strategy & Innovation, Solstice Mobile: Curiosity

My natural tendency to want to know how something works and demystify a topic by learning more has propelled my career, instilled confidence, and put me on a path I could have never imagined. My general curiosity has made me challenge myself and look at life through the lens of “hmmm that’s interesting, I wonder if I could do that. It can’t be that hard.” This attitude has brought out in me the marathoner, the snowboarder, the knitter, the mother, the wife, the business leader, the Harvard student, the writer, the teacher, and the cook. I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Laura Fitton, Inbound Marketing Evangelist, Hubspot; Author (“Twitter for Dummies”): Heart 

My (sometimes uncomfortably) huge heart – feeling deeply, responding emotionally, bringing all my enthusiasm to bear, facing risks, finding the strength to keep going, and being determined to bypass obstacles – is behind every pivotal moment in my career. The book, the companies, the charity:water campaigns, and going out on (what was in 2007) quite a limb about Twitter’s potential all ties into that. It’s also been a weakness when I indulge negative emotions or lose sight of priorities in my fixation to try to help people.

Laurie Davis, Founder of eFlirt Expert and Author of “Love @ First Click”: Flexibility

My career has taken many twists and turns. Most dramatically, I went from a marketing consultant for Fortune 500s to losing nearly all my clients during the recession. Being flexible — and following my passion during transitions — led me to reinvent myself as a tech and dating expert. Having career agility allows me to continue morphing into my best self professionally and personally, creating opportunities with heart.

Lynn Bardowski, Author (“Success Secrets of a Million Dollar Party Girl”), Entrepreneur, Radio Host: Tenacity

If it wasn’t for tenacity I would have never had the courage to leave a successful corporate career, overcome failure, or write my first book. Tenacity helped me stay the course when friends and family were telling me starting a biz was a crazy idea. I love proving the naysayers wrong.

Marsha Collier, Author (“Ultimate Online Customer Service Guide” and over 40 books in the “for Dummies” series), Radio Host, Analyst: Tenacity

If something didn’t work, I would take what I’d learned and apply it to the next task. Failure wasn’t an option; moving forward always was.

Rachel Goldman, Founder, Owner and Executive Chef, D’lish Intimate Catering: Resilience

D’lish didn’t get the opportunity to cater at the level we are now without resilience -and serious dedication and determination over the past nine years. It took passion, standing tall, falling – and of course, getting back up again even prouder than before. And, opening myself to learning a lesson from each unique experience in the wild world of entrepreneurship and the food industry. That attitude has led my business to a high level of catering – doing what I love.

Shelli Johnson, CEO/Owner, YourEpicLife.com: Commitment

There are many ways you can climb a mountain. Despite stumbles, exposure and re-routes, commitment to my purpose has remained constant, and it has made all the difference.

Source: Forbes.com