Top 3 Personality Traits of Extremely Successful People

I love reading books, and I read a lot of them—especially in the field of personal development and business success. Over time, after studying biographies, interviews, and real-life stories of highly successful people, one thing became very clear to me.

If you want to achieve the same kind of results that extremely successful people achieve, you have to understand how they think, how they act, and more importantly, what kind of personality traits they develop along the way.

People succeed for many reasons. Some attribute success to hard work. Some say it’s about taking consistent action. Others believe success comes from never giving up, dreaming big, or believing in yourself. While all of these play an important role, I’ve noticed that successful people share a few core personality traits that truly set them apart.

Out of all the characteristics of successful people, I’ve narrowed it down to my personal top three. There are definitely more traits worth exploring, but these three stand out as must-have qualities if you want long-term success.

Here they are.

1. Successful People Are Extremely Determined About Their Dreams

Do you have a dream?

What do you really want to accomplish in your life? Do you want to live in a bungalow by the beach? Drive a limited-edition Lamborghini? Travel the world? Or maybe you’re still unclear about what you want in the future.

The first thing successful people do is get very clear about their dreams. They know exactly what they want. Setting a clear goal is the first step toward achieving it. After all, you can’t hit a target if you don’t even know where it is.

Now here’s the real question:
Out of all your dreams and goals, how many are you still actively working on?

This is where most people struggle. Many people have big dreams—but they don’t hold on to them long enough. They get excited for a short period of time, take action for a few weeks or months, and then slowly stop when things get difficult.

Most people say they want to be rich. But very few actually become rich—not because they lack ability, but because they didn’t stay determined long enough. They quit too early.

When you study the biographies of extremely successful people, you’ll notice something powerful. They also had big dreams—just like you and me—but they were relentlessly determined to make them happen.

They think about their dreams constantly. They talk about them. They look for ways to improve their business, their craft, or their results every single day. Successful people are a rare breed because they don’t just dream—they persist.

Take Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, as an example. He talked about growing his business all the time. He thought about it constantly—before sleeping, while working, and even during everyday moments. His vision was deeply connected to his life.

That’s what determination looks like.

If you’re not fully committed and determined about the success you want, then maybe it’s not something you truly must achieve. It might just be something you’d like to have.

This is one of the main reasons why many people fail. They dream. They take some action. But they don’t persist long enough to see results.

Why Determination is important?

Determination is one of the most important traits successful people share—and without it, success rarely lasts.

2. Successful People Are Extremely Committed to Their Dreams

Earlier, we talked about being determined and not giving up on your dreams. Now, let’s take it one step further and talk about commitment.

So, are you truly committed to your dreams and goals?

When I talk about commitment, I’m not referring to partial commitment. I’m talking about being 100% fully committed. Successful people don’t keep a backup excuse. They decide what they want and commit to making it happen—no matter what.

Ask yourself this honestly:
Are you willing to do whatever it takes to achieve your goals?

A great example of this level of commitment is Colonel Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC). His famous chicken recipe was rejected more than 1,000 times before someone finally said yes. Most people would have given up after a handful of rejections—but he didn’t.

This is how successful people think.

To me, commitment means making a decision and keeping your word to yourself. Once you decide, there are no alternative outcomes. There is no Plan B that allows quitting. If one way is blocked, you find another way.

If you can’t go through the obstacle, go under it.
If you can’t go under it, go around it.
If you can’t go around it, climb over it.
And if all else fails, find a way to break through it.

This is the mindset successful people develop. They keep adjusting their strategies, trying new approaches, and learning from failures until they get the result they want.

I’ve seen this firsthand.

I used to work in property sales, and it was very clear who succeeded and who didn’t. The people who sold the most properties were always the most committed to their business.

I had a colleague who woke up at 5:30 a.m. every single day. He made sure he reached the office by 7:30 a.m. and started working while most people were still sleeping. In real estate, you’re essentially self-employed, so how you treat your work reflects how serious you are about success.

Most negotiators didn’t show up until 10 or 11 a.m. Some checked emails, browsed social media, had lunch—and only then started working.

The difference wasn’t talent.
The difference was commitment.

When successful people commit to their dreams, they take consistent action. They don’t wait to feel motivated. They show up because they’ve decided that failure is not an option.

As long as you keep going, you are not failing.
You only fail the moment you stop trying.

This level of commitment is one of the most powerful characteristics of successful people—and it’s what separates high achievers from everyone else.

3. Successful People Are Extremely Positive About the Future

Now that we’ve covered determination and commitment, let’s talk about positivity—another trait that every highly successful person shares.

I wasn’t always a big believer in positive thinking until I saw its real power in action. Being positive doesn’t mean ignoring challenges; it means having faith in your ability to overcome them and believing in the potential of your future, your company, and your goals.

Think about this: what happens when the economy slows down or the market faces a downturn? Will Apple stop launching products? Will professional athletes quit practicing because conditions aren’t perfect? Probably not.

Successful people understand that everything is cyclical—ups and downs are normal. They maintain a positive mindset even when things are tough, and this allows them to think creatively, make better decisions, and keep moving forward.

Take Osim, a pioneering massage chair company in Singapore, as an example. During a downturn, instead of giving up, they expanded into new markets like India, grew their product lines, and ended up outperforming competitors who were discouraged by the economy.

This is the power of positivity: it helps you see opportunities where others see obstacles, and it fuels the resilience you need to keep taking action toward your dreams.

Negative thinking, on the other hand, can block your creativity, decision-making, and motivation. The more positive you are about the future, the easier it becomes to act, innovate, and achieve the results you want in life.

In short, a positive mindset is a defining personality trait of successful people. It keeps them moving forward, even when the path is uncertain.

Conclusion: The Top 3 Traits That Define Successful People

So there you have it—my top three personality traits of extremely successful people:

1. Determination – knowing exactly what you want and never letting go of your dreams.

2. Commitment – taking consistent action and refusing to quit, no matter the obstacles.

3. Positivity – believing in your future and seeing opportunities even in tough times.

These traits aren’t just abstract ideas—they are practical ways of thinking and acting that anyone can adopt. You don’t need to be born into success; you can develop these qualities by choosing to focus on your goals, committing fully, and maintaining a positive mindset every single day.

Remember, success isn’t about luck—it’s about mindset, persistence, and the personality traits that guide your decisions and actions.

I know you probably have your own list of success traits too. I’d love for you to share them in the comments below—let’s inspire each other to grow and succeed!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What traits do successful people share?
A: Highly successful people are determined, committed, positive, disciplined, resilient, and continuously learning. These traits help them overcome challenges and achieve long-term success.

Q2: How can I develop successful personality traits?
A: Start by clarifying your goals, staying committed to taking action, maintaining a positive mindset, and learning from every experience. Small daily habits build these traits over time.

Q3: Why is a positive mindset important for success?
A: Positivity allows you to see opportunities, remain motivated during setbacks, and make better decisions. Without it, negative thinking can block creativity and progress.