10 Things That Require Zero Talent But Can Still Lead To Success

“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.” – Stephen King

If you think you need talent for your success, you’re wrong.

Everyone is created equal. But not everyone puts in their ten-thousand hours to succeed. The Roman philosopher Seneca said that, “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”. And it’s absolutely true.

Everyone has certain potential, a particular skillset. And in that particular field, they can accomplish anything if they put their head down and do the work.

So here are the top ten things that require zero talent and still determine your success.

1. Being On Time

Many people have a habit of being late to meetings, to work, to appointments with mentors and important clients.

Being on times takes zero talent and shows that you are sincere and trustworthy. It also shows that you value the little things in life. Most of the big opportunities that we get in life come as a result of the little choices we make every day. Make small choices wisely to increase the odds of your success.

And finally, for most people, time is money. So if you’re late to a business negotiation, you’ve just wasted the other person’s precious time, and potentially done harm to your own future success. Every second counts, every decision counts.  

2. Making An Effort

“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.” – Leonardo Da Vinci

Many people have the habit of cutting corners in life. This applies to work, relationships, finances, and so on. For example, many people never take the time to build financial skills and they end up owing their bank tens of thousands of bucks in credit card debt.

When it comes to work, some people just watch the clock waiting for their workday to end, without any regard for the quality of the work they’re doing. Invest your mind and spirit fully in your work as your effort determines your success.

3. Being ‘High Energy’

Being high energy takes no hidden talent and yet it determines your success. Eat, sleep, exercise – get these three basic elements right and you’ll have high energy throughout the day.

As Tony Robbins says, most people live in a box 24×7. Their home is a box, they travel in a box-like car, they work on a box-like computer, they go to have drinks in a box-like bar. And they never leave the box. So it’s important to move your body, exercise, and bring energy to your humdrum life.

4. Having A Positive Attitude

Having a positive attitude is essential to do creative work and largely determines your success. When you’re negative, you not only sabotage your own efforts, you also act as a roadblock in the path of success of others.

When you have a positive attitude, you feel positive emotions. And studies have shown that bringing positive emotions to work is essential to succeed.

5. Being Passionate

It takes zero talent to bring out the child in you and get excited about things. It’s as easy as keeping a positive attitude. Remember when you were a child and it was so easy to get excited for the most mundane of things.

Bring that enthusiasm back, don’t let the noise from the world kill your inner child, your passion, your love for life. Harness the childlike enthusiasm is to increase the odds of your success.

6. Using Good Body Language

Body language is not only important in business and determines the chances of your success to a large extent. But it also determines the quality of your relationships, your mental health, your physical health, and so on.

So if you’re having a conversation with someone, hold eye contact to show interest. Similarly, a firm handshake shows trust and sincerity. An important thing to note is how you walk. Confident people walk with their stomach in, chest out, shoulders back, and head up.

7. Being Coachable

It is important to believe that you can do it. But it’s equally important to listen to feedback and learn from it. So if an expert in your field says you are doing it wrong, seek their feedback instead of taking it as a personal attack. Feedback is a great tool for your success. Use it.

Many people have fragile egos and they can’t take criticism. Be open to criticism and be willing to learn, that’s the only way you will ever grow.

8. Going the Extra Mile

“There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.” – Zig Ziglar

One of the most renowned personal development coach, Steve Pavlina, says that in life, there is a lot of churn at the bottom. It means millions of people compete for the low hanging fruit, for jobs that barely keep you above water. But at the top, the competition is not so hard. Because few ever dare to compete to that level.

Therefore, if you want to succeed, go the extra mile. Because few will ever go that route and it will make a world of difference for you.

9. Being Prepared

The irony of life is that it there is no secret to success, yet few people ever make it to the top. Why? Because most people are okay with being mediocre. Most people are passive and don’t want to create a life on their own terms. Most people never prepare for the game of life.

So whatever it is you want to conquer – your career, relationships, fitness, or spirituality – put in thousands of hours in preparation before you expect the rewards.

10. Having A Strong Work Ethic

“Doubt is only removed by action, if you’re not working then that’s when doubt comes in” – Conor McGregor

You can be smart or talented, but you can never be successful without cultivating discipline and consistency. The core tool you need to have in your arsenal is an impeccable work ethic. The most successful people often work 12-15 hours a day – and that’s no coincidence.

Elon Musk used to work 100 hour weeks in his early days. And now he has “toned it down” to 80 to 90 hours per week. Mark Cuban says that you gotta “work like someone is trying to take it all away from you”

All successful people – Mark Cuban, Beyonce, Michael Jordan, Gary Vaynerchuk, Michael Phelps, Will Smith, Marco Pierre White, Conor McGregor, Shah Rukh Khan – everyone says that there is only one way to succeed – create an unbeatable work ethic.