How to go from good to great

If great minds think alike, it stands to reason that great people, no matter their field, have similar habits. In their book The Art of Doing: How Superachievers Do What T

hey Do and How They Do It So Well, Camille Sweeney and Josh Gosfield found several common qualities shared by über successful individuals.

Try adopting some of them in your quest for greatness.

Self-awareness and dedication

Instead of blaming a failure on external factors—the economy, the government, even the weather—those at the top of their game look inward to determine where their own assumptions and biases failed them.

Not every inspired idea leads to success. Highly successful people are effective at shaping their lives around their inspirations, rather than the other way around. This dedication helps them remain true to their cause in times of difficulty.

Testing, listening 

Superachievers know the value of using feedback or simulations to get empirical evidence about what they’re doing, as opposed to relying on gut instinct.

This is important for company founders to trust their own capacity for success and for soliciting outside investors, too.

Great people listen to others not only for validation or politeness, but also to learn. Listening is more than a nicety; the most successful among us know that nearly everyone has valuable wisdom to impart.

Building a community

You know when you ask yourself, “How did I get involved in this project/event/company?” Thank (or blame) a superachiever. They have an impressive ability to persuade others to join in their mission, creating a support system that helps further their achievements.