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Ever wonder what distinguishes the successful from the unsuccessful or the all-to-common average? Why do some people thrive while others struggle to keep their heads above water? Regardless of your profession, education or experience, there are five common traits and characteristics that successful people share:

1. High motivation:
The number one strength you can possess in life is internal motivation. This is the fuel that pushes you to get up everyday and get excited about working toward your goals. When the motivation is strong the world is open to you. Passion is crucial for moving forward in life. Without it, you're lost.

2. Confidence:
In order to be confident you need to know what you want and work towards it. You must believe in your individual power, mind and abilities during good and bad times. Feed your mind with positive uplifting information and stay clear of negative people who simply drain your resources or discourage you from accomplishing what is right for you.

3. Persistence:
Persist at what you want until it happens. Every successful business person understands and lives by this rule. The more nay-sayers you hear the better. This is your cue that you are taking risks, asking for what you want and developing the inner power to move ahead. Others like you will see it and show up in your life. Likes attract likes.

4. Socially astute:
Knowing how to talk, when to talk and ask questions is crucial to your success. Whether meeting someone for the first time or not, sociable people enjoy meeting and learning from one another. Relationships are key to your success. No one exists alone and besides, life would be quite boring if you didn't take the time to meet new people.

5. Openness:
Being open means trusting the universe. People meet one another for a reason. Every interaction counts. Making mistakes is part of life and part of your journey to success. How else would you get there if you knew all the answers? Step out of your comfort zone and do something new or different. Remember is the "average" who will look at you in a funny way. To be different requires standing out sometimes. Don't be afraid to do so.