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Another 'top 5' list from Yahoo - so silly

Yahoo recently posted an article -  Top 5 Tips to Build Wealth and Success.

Their top 5 tips for success were:

1. Live Below Your Means.
2. Bounce Back From Defeat
3. Self-Promote
4. Have Street Smarts
5. Buy Cheap  

I find it annoying when the media serves this drivel up to folks. Half of those traits you could argue are the traits that people living in poverty possess.

From what I've seen of those who are successful and wealthy, better tips seem to be:

1. Have a vision - a vision is the compass that keeps successful people heading in the right direction (Vision)

2. Never burn bridges with people unless absolutely necessary (Reputation)
3. Don't worry about stuff like failure or what others think - worry, anxiety and fear are huge no no's for successful people. (Confidence/Optimism/Positive Attitude)

4. Self Promote - I agree with this one big time (although I'd call it networking). If people don't know you exist they can't give you business or buy your product (Business Development / Marketing)

5.
Think Big - similar to vision. Rich/successful folks, when they see an opportunity, go after it. They don't wait for someone to encourage them to do it or tell them it's a good idea.  (Entrepreneurial spirit)

6. Have tons of energy - most successful people are physically and mentally healthy and can work a 16 hour day and hardly feel tired. This is a huge differentiator between average folks and those who are successful. (Passion/Endless Energy)

7. Get lucky - successful people don't always make their opportunities, but they capitalize on them when they present themselves. Read Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers: The Story of Success to understand this more. (Environmental Factors)

 8. Be a leader - successful people draw smart, ambitious people in to their vision and keep them motivated. You're only as good as the people you've surrounded yourself with. (Leadership)


Anyway, not to say I know it all, but I think those factors are more in line with how rich/successful people actually are than what Yahoo posted.

Although I suppose the average person out there grinding through a 9-5 and just barely paying the bills would like the Yahoo article which makes being successful and rich seem easy.

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