There are very few people, if any, who long to be unsuccessful. You don’t just wake up in the morning and decide that you want to be mediocre. Most people long for more, but only a small few actually achieve the success they want. Just the same, successful people don’t just become that way by accident. They have to work for it.

So what makes the difference between success and failure? What is it that successful people have that helps them get where they are? Here are just a few key traits of successful people:

* Goal oriented. When you are sifting through piles of work, or are hit by a setback, it’s easy to feel distraught. If you can’t look forward and see why you do what you do, you’re going to be more affected and more likely to give up.

* Persistence. When you talk to successful people, you’ll find a common theme. It’s not that successful people don’t fail, it’s that they don’t give up when they fail. They keep going and keep trying until they make it. Even if things go well for you in the beginning, eventually, the odds are you’re going to fail eventually. You’ve just got to dust yourself off and keep trying.

* Self-aware. In order to be successful, you need to know what you’re good at. That way you can direct your path towards your positives and exploit them. It’s also important that you be aware of your weaknesses, which is something that’s a little harder for most people. By knowing your weaknesses, you can figure out how to avoid them faulting you, or you can take steps to improve on them.

* Positive thinking. Have you ever noticed that when you’re around someone who’s excited and happy, you feel happier? And if you’re around someone who’s always depressed, you start to feel sad yourself? We are affected by what we are surrounded with. And the same goes internally. If we fill our minds with positive thought, we eventually start thinking more positively. And if you believe you are good at what you’re doing and can accomplish your goals, you’re going to try harder and longer to get them.

* Creative thinking. There are thousands of businesses across the country and millions more across the world. These are all people competing for the same money you are. In order to make yourself known, you have to do something different. That will require you to be creative – through product ideas, marketing, customer support, or even in how you organize your office.

So, you’re maybe thinking that you don’t have most of these attributes, but that doesn’t mean you can’t become a successful person. The good news is that these behaviors can be learned. If success is something you really want, you just need to work hard, and find these things within yourself.