7 Habits of Successful People You Must Copy (and the Bad Habits to Avoid) With poll

In the real world, being successful in mind is very easy, but to implement, doing the right work daily and reading daily is very difficult. Obviously, we need an environment to grow our self and track progress on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis but the fact is some time we do such work that is against our aim. In this scenario, what are the things that successful people do we must copy and avoid bad habit that make us push back on our first spot.

Many people think it’s luck or talent, but when I study every aspect and cover everything from A to z, i realize that these things we talk about in this article if you follow and give your 100%, definitely you will be a successful person one day.

Your aim to achieve anything should be at its peak, because if we need something today, we must give our best effort today. If a person sets their aim at 100% every single day, in reality they may only achieve 90% or even 50%. But if your mindset is to aim at 1,000,000%, even when you fall short, you still reach much higher than the average person.

This is the real strategy of successful people and billionaires like Warren Buffett and Elon Musk. They aim so high that even their “losses” are wins. When your focus is at peak level, missing one day doesn’t destroy your progress, because your long-term aim is so strong. That’s the secret: always aim higher than what you think is possible.

On a daily basis, about 45% of what we do is driven by habits, not conscious decisions. This comes from research at Duke University. That’s why if we don’t change our habits, we can’t change our results.

In this article, I’m going to show you the 7 habits of successful people you can copy today. With these good habit, in this article, I also talk about neagtive habits like procrastination that play a major role in making ourselves keep in the list of unsuccessful people. This isn’t theory, it’s a mix of science, real stories, and my own observations. By the end, you’ll see exactly what you need to change with powerful lessons.

What Makes Successful People Different?

This is a real question: what actually makes successful people different?

Most of the time, when people answer it, they point to things like becoming a billionaire, living a luxury lifestyle, or CEO. But in reality, success is not only about money.

What makes successful people truly different is a mixture of many things, like their daily habits, being healthy, their ability to manage money, their sense of happiness, their purpose in life, and how strictly they stick to their aims and goals.

It’s this combination that separates them from the average person. Money alone without purpose feels empty. Purpose without discipline drifts away. But when habits, money, happiness, and a strong aim come together, that’s when someone becomes truly successful.

So, what do they do if we talk about in 3 points:

1. They make choices in advance through habits, instead of wasting energy on every decision.
2. They look failure as a teacher instead of a wall.
3. THey now every action should be small that bring great result and if they consistent on that tiny habit, will achieve anything in life.

Now let’s break down the actual habits you need to copy.

1. Waking Up Early and Doing Hard Things First (Because of Dopamine)

I know, you’ve probably heard this advice before. But here’s the truth: successful people wake up early not because of tradition, but because it gives them quiet, focused hours before the world starts distracting them.

There’s also a deeper reason. The first thing most people do when they wake up is grab their phone like they think if they don’t pick phone, they lose millions of dollars. They start scrolling TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts. That quick entertainment gives the brain a dopamine spike, which is the chemical of pleasure. The problem is, once your brain gets that easy hit of dopamine, it keeps craving more all day. That is why you all day less energy, feel like distracted from right path and unmotivated.

Successful people flip the script. Instead of chasing easy dopamine, they use the morning for hard, high-value tasks like reading, planning, exercise, or deep work. When you do the hardest things first, you’re giving your brain a sense of achievement instead of quick pleasure.

• Fact: A 2008 Harvard Business Review study found that early risers are more proactive and better at anticipating problems.
• Example: Apple CEO Tim Cook wake up early than other people and starts his day at 3:45 a.m. to read customer emails and plan his schedule.

When you wake up before the world does, and resist that urge to scroll — you control your day instead of reacting to it. Try it for a week: set your alarm 30 minutes earlier and use that time only for planning or personal growth. You’ll notice the difference. it for a week: set your alarm 30 minutes earlier and use that time only for planning or personal growth.

Also explore this 1 thing that is a night prayer that give you results in less time.

2. Setting Clear Goals and Why You Must Write Them Down

If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you ever get there? Goals give you direction, but writing them down gives you power.

A famous Harvard Business School study found that only 3% of graduates had written goals, and ten years later, they were earning 10 times more than the other 97%. That’s the difference between having an idea and having a written plan.

Successful people don’t just dream, they write their goals, break them into small steps, and track progress daily. Writing makes your brain treat the goal as something real, not just a passing thought.

When I started writing my own goals instead of just thinking about them, my productivity doubled. You should do the same. Keep a small notebook habit tracker, online notepad or even a sticky note. So, in 1 day, only write 1 big goal and with that add 3 small tasks that you should complete in a day.

Benefits of Writing Things Down:

• It gives your brain clarity and focus.
• It increases memory retention (you’re more likely to remember something you write by hand).
• It reduces stress because your thoughts are out of your head and onto paper.
• It creates accountability because the written word stares back at you.
• It boosts motivation because every check mark on your list feels like a small win.

The truth is, every successful person I’ve studied writes things down, whether it’s Warren Buffett with investment notes or bill gates etc You don’t need expensive tools. Pen and paper can be life-changing.

3. Lifelong Learning Even After 40, 50, or Until Your Last Breath

We think that when i complete my school, college or university degree, i am free till death. If you think like this than believe it that your education you spend 20 years totally waste because real learning begins after practical life and without learning after that it is impossible to survive in this world.

Success isn’t about reaching a point and saying, “I know enough now.” The truth is, the moment you stop learning, you start falling behind.

Stat: According to Pew Research, 73% of adults consider themselves lifelong learners. The world changes every single day. Technology, business, and even health science evolve and now its the ai era and every day, new technology lunch and we think that how is this possible becuase that technlgy is insane. If you don’t keep learning, you get stuck while the world moves ahead.

According to pew research,

Look at these most successful people that study a lot:

• Warren buffett spends more than 80% to read books, reports and newspaper and this is huge.
• Bill Gates reads 50 books a year.
• Elon Musk learned rocket science knowledge and reading books and asking smart people questions.

If billionaires with insane schedules can make time to learn, so can you.

Why lifelong learning is non-negotiable:

• It keeps your mind sharp and delays mental decline.
• It gives you new opportunities when others think life has passed them by.
• It keeps you humble and you realize there’s always more to know.
• It gives you an edge over people who stopped growing years ago.

Personally, I read at least 30 minutes before bed. At first, it felt small. But over time, it transformed my perspective. I noticed I could connect ideas faster, make better decisions, and even explain things more clearly to others.

You don’t need to aim for 50 books a year. Start small. Read one article, one page, or listen to one podcast daily. The point is: keep your brain hungry, because the moment you stop feeding it, you stop progressing.

4. Networking and Relationships Make Your Journey Easier

I used to think success was a solo journey. I was wrong. The truth is: your network shapes your net worth. I also tell you that for your inner self this is true that only you can make your inner self successful because self improvement start with inner first. So!

Fact: According to LinkedIn, 85% of jobs are filled through networking. That means opportunities often don’t come from job boards, they come from people.

Think about it: in every field, there are teachers and experts who guide us. A student needs a teacher, an athlete needs a coach, and a business leader needs mentors. If you’re aiming big, you can’t walk the road alone. You need a strong, loyal circle, an “army” of people who believe in you and push you forward.

Successful people know this secret. They build relationships not just for business, but for growth. They find mentors to learn from, peers to share ideas with, and friends who remind them of their vision when things get hard.

Here’s a reality check:
Ask yourself, who are the five people I spend the most time with? If they’re negative, lazy, or stuck in the past, they’ll slowly drag you down without you noticing. But if they’re ambitious, disciplined, and positive, they’ll lift you higher just by being around them.

That’s why Warren Buffett surrounds himself with brilliant thinkers. That’s why Elon Musk attracts engineers who share his vision. No matter how smart or driven you are, you’ll go further and faster with the right people beside you.

My personal tip: Don’t just look for “contacts.” Look for connections. Seek mentors, friends, and partners who want you to grow. Give value first, be loyal, and you’ll build a network that makes your destination not just possible, but closer.

5. Financial Discipline Is the Backbone of Being Wealthy

In many quotes you read that is : Money doesn’t buy happiness, but poor money habits will definitely bring stress.

Fact: A 2023 report from FINRA revealed that 60% of Americans don’t even have $1,000 saved for an emergency. That means most people are just one crisis away from being broke.

Here’s the truth no one likes to hear: you could win the lottery, inherit millions, or earn billions and still end up poor if you don’t have financial discipline. History is full of athletes, and lottery winners who lost everything because they never learned how to manage money.

If the world took away every dollar from you today, the only thing that would keep you from being broke tomorrow is your discipline, not your bank balance. That’s why successful people focus less on “having money” and more on building systems to protect it.

Books like Rich Dad Poor Dad teach us this exact lesson: it’s not how much you make, it’s how much you keep and how hard your money works for you. Robert Kiyosaki explains how assets (things that put money in your pocket) are far more valuable than liabilities (things that take money out).

Here’s what financially disciplined people do:

• Budget smartly — every dollar has a job.
• Save consistently — even if it’s just 10% of income.
• Invest wisely — stocks, real estate, or businesses.
• Avoid lifestyle inflation — just because you earn more doesn’t mean you spend more.

What i do: I started small, literally with a glass jar. Every time I got paid, I put something aside. Over time, those small amounts taught me control. Later, I moved to bank accounts, investments, and digital wallets.

It’s not the amount you save that matters at first it’s the habit. Because money without discipline is like water in your hand. No matter how much you hold, it slips away.vings jar and later moved into investments. It’s not about how much you save, but about building the habit.

6. Health and Fitness Should Be Your First Priority

You can have mountains of dollars, private jets, and luxury houses, but if your health fails, you won’t even be able to move from one room to another. What’s the point of all that wealth if you can’t enjoy it? Think twice: health is wealth.

Fact: Research from the American College of Sports Medicine proves that regular exercise improves memory, boosts focus, and reduces stress.

Out of topic sentence but read it twice: This make you healthy and when every your organ work properly, you are successful in this life and when you live with purpose, then you live in both world successful.

Billionaire Richard Branson once said that daily exercise gives him four extra hours of productivity every single day. That’s not magic, it’s the science of energy, mood, and focus.

I’ve experienced this myself. When I work out for even 15 minutes, a walk, some stretching, or quick push-ups, I feel sharper and calmer and i think this pleasure when your body get food in the form of excercise, i live life properly. Skip exercise for a week, and I feel sluggish, distracted, and less motivated.

The good news? You don’t need an expensive gym membership. A simple morning walk, bodyweight exercises at home, or cycling outside can completely change your energy levels. Pair that with good sleep and balanced food, and you’ll notice your brain working faster and your mood staying positive.

Remember this: your body is the only vehicle that carries you through life. If it breaks down, no amount of money can replace it. Successful people know this truth that’s why they invest in fitness just like they invest in businesses.

7. Failure Is Part of Life, But Learning from It Is the Habit You Must Adopt

We all have a short heat inside us. When we fail, we get frustrated, angry, and start believing we don’t have the ability to complete it. If you truly think that way, then yes you’re right, you don’t deserve success. Because in this world, without proving yourself again and again, you cannot survive.

But here’s the hidden gift: failure is not your enemy, it’s your compass. It tells you, “This path doesn’t work — try another one.”

Think about it:

• Steve Jobs was kicked out of Apple, the very company he built, before returning to make it legendary.
• Elon Musk watched multiple SpaceX rockets explode before finally reaching space.

The difference? They didn’t let frustration break them. They treated failure as a teacher, not a verdict.

I’ve learned this the hard way too. Every time I failed, I wanted to quit. But looking back, I see that those failures shaped me. They taught me what doesn’t work and pushed me to discover what does.

Remember: failure doesn’t mean the end. It means you’re still in the game. And if you’re still in the game, you can still win.

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Which habit do you think impacts success the most?

Waking up early0

Setting clear goals0

Lifelong learning0

Networking and relationships0

Financial discipline0

Health and fitness0

Learning from failure1

If 'Other' is filled, checked answers are ignored.

Bad Habits to Avoid (Unsuccessful People)

It’s not enough to copy good habits. You must also cut the bad ones.

• Procrastination: Waiting for the “perfect time” kills progress.
• Negative Thinking: Always expecting failure makes it real.
• Ignoring Health: Poor sleep and junk food drain your focus.
• Poor Money Management: Spending more than you earn locks you in debt.
• Lack of Consistency: Starting strong but quitting fast leads nowhere.
• Blaming Others: Successful people take responsibility; unsuccessful people blame.
• Fear of Change: Sticking to comfort zones prevents growth.

If you see these habits in yourself, don’t panic. Start replacing them with the good ones above.

Science Behind Habits

Charles Duhigg, in his book The Power of Habit, explains the habit loop:

1. Cue → trigger that starts the habit
2. Routine → the action itself
3. Reward → the benefit you get

Neuroscience shows that habits form in the basal ganglia, a part of the brain that stores repeated actions. Research by Phillippa Lally (University College London) found that it takes about 66 days on average to form a new habit, not 21 as many people believe.

So if you want to copy successful people, commit for at least two months.

Real-Life Examples

• Elon Musk: Works long hours but always reads and learns. He once said, “I read books and talked to people, that’s how I learned.”
• Bill Gates: Sets aside “think weeks” twice a year, where he isolates himself to read and reflect.
• Jeff Bezos: Protects his 8 hours of sleep as a non-negotiable habit.

How You Can Build These Habits

Here’s a simple plan for you:

1. Pick one habit at a time. Don’t overwhelm yourself.
2. Attach it to an existing habit. Example: read 10 minutes after brushing your teeth at night.
3. Track it daily. Use a calendar or journal.
4. Celebrate small wins. Reward yourself for sticking to it.
5. Cut one bad habit while adding one good habit.

Conclusion

No matter this article is big but these 7 habits of successful people and the bad habits unsuccessful people follow if you read is effective. The difference between success and failure isn’t talent, luck, or money. It’s what you and I choose to do every single day.

If you only take one thing from this article, let it be this: small habits, repeated daily, build an extraordinary life.

So, what will you start today?