By Robert Allen
ot everyone comes by their success in the same way but staying successful requires you to follow some common principles. Self-made billionaires know what it takes to achieve and maintain success.
If you ask Warren Buffett about success, he’ll tell you that reading is one of the most important sources of knowledge. He’s known to read up to 500 pages every day. Cho Tak Wong, chairman of the Fuyao Group, offers this piece of advice: “I’d tell young people to read. Read books about how to do things right. Read books about how to be a good person.”
Successful people also recognize the importance of staying physically fit. Maybe it’s weight training, swimming, or time on the Peloton. According to Thomas C. Corley, “Seventy-six percent of the rich aerobically exercise 30 minutes or more every day.” Corley should know; he spent five years studying the daily habits of 177 self-made millionaires.
An early morning wake-up time is another important rule for success. The CEO of Moose Toys, Manny Stul, initially had a hard time getting up early. Once he mastered it, it was life changing. “It was a struggle at first. But after about two weeks, I was waking up without the alarm. I never got out of the habit, ever. No matter what time I go to bed, I always wake up early and exercise for an hour.” Waking up early gives you more time to prepare for the day, both physically and mentally.
Regular routines also increase your success and give you time to practice the other rules. Kim Beom-su, founder and chairman of South Korea’s biggest messaging app, Kakao, sleeps from 11:30 p.m. and gets up between 5 and 6 a.m. and goes for a walk. “When I come back, I take a shower. Then, I come out to the living room where there are a lot of books and choose one that catches my eye.” After reading for half an hour, he listens to music for 30 minutes, has breakfast with his family, and then heads out to work for the day.
The final rule for success is also perhaps the most overlooked. Successful people spend time with other successful people. They seek out others who are goal-oriented, enthusiastic, and who will inspire and encourage them to greater and greater heights.