13 Underappreciated Traits You Absolutely Need to Succeed

13 Underappreciated Traits You Absolutely Need to Succeed Article by YECPicture the most successful person you know. What is it about them that you admire the most? What characteristics do they have that you really respect? Is it their confidence? Their intelligence? Their work ethic?What about the things you might bedrngnis notice at first glance, like an insatiable hunger, gratitude, or patience? Often,these traits that fly under the radargert can have the biggest impact on your ability to achieve.We asked members of the Young Entrepreneur Council which of these underappreciated traits they value the most. Even though theyre not as loud as some other traits, theyre absolutely necessary to succeed.1. MindfulnessIts easy to get lost in the grind and miss out on many things in the demanding environment that comes with entrepreneurship. I deliberately and regularly make time to reflect on past successes and failures, which opens my mind up to different possibilities. Theres a lesson in every outcome in our lives, and discovering those lessons makes us grow. Turgay Birand, EditionGuard2. Solid Speaking SkillsI was an active member of my high school debate team for all four years. The extracurricular helped me become more articulate, logical, and a better public speakeroverall. These skills have played a critical role in my development into the business leader I am today. Paul Hager, Information Technology Professionals3. InsatiabilityIm a naturally insatiable person when it comes to learning and growth. This leads to being open to new ideas, asking questions, and ingesting endless amounts of new content. All of this leads toward success, as one new piece of knowledge builds on another and sparks of curiosity create new valuable relationships. It also results in a constant drive to dissect and improve my business. Darrah Brustein, Network Under 404. DecisivenessThe most successful leaders recognize they do not have time to get al l of the facts for the dozens of decisions they make each day. Instead, they just need to gather enough information to make sound decisions so the company can move forward. Some of those decisions will be wrong, but its better to learn from those mistakes and try again than to be immobilized by indecisiveness. Doug Bend, Bend Law Group, PC5. ConsistencyI think my biggest key to success and the thing I tell others who are starting businesses is to be consistent. Growing a business is hard, but you have to keep at it week after week and month after month. Ive blogged almost every single week for the past seven years, and I truly believethe fact that Ive approached my business that way is one of the reasons for my success. Sean Ogle, Location Rebel6. CoachabilityPretty much anyone can take feedback at a surface level, but actually evaluating criticism and learning from it is a rare trait. After all, feedback is incredibly personal and it can cause severe damage to your ego. Rather t han nodding to harsh feedback, I learned from the best by really taking their advice to heart and separating my self-worth from my ability to have valuable learning experiences. Elle Kaplan, LexION Capital7. HonestyPeople appreciate my emphasis on honesty. Its surprising, given all the people who dont focus on it, but honesty is still highly valued among customers who are seeking that authentic experience. Even if it means telling a customer I cant do something, Id rather be honest and let them know. They appreciate that and come back when I can help them. Drew Hendricks, Buttercup8. CalmnessI have always been a very laid-back person, sometimes to a fault. In my business, I often find myself in the middle of stressful and complex deals. By staying calm, Im able to see things more objectively and not allow the stress of the deal to force a bad decision. Mark Daoust, Quiet Light Brokerage, Inc.9. PatienceI see people rush things all the time because they have that need for immediat e results, but Ive learned that slow and steady can win the race because patience often leads to better results. You are not pushing people or situations, but letting them occur naturally, which also helps me determine in advance if the moves are smart and whether Ive covered all my bases. Andrew OConnor, American Addiction Centers10. GratitudeThere are many successful people who arent happy. My perspective is that gratitude is the thing that keeps you centered. Every day, I begin by writing down things Im grateful for, and I make it a point to give gifts to people I feel grateful to. It makes them feel good, makes me feel good, and keeps life centered. Adam Steele, The Magistrate11. Ability to Read PeopleAn underrated trait that I can easily attribute my success to is being able to read people. Having the ability to pick up on different peoples personalities can be extremely beneficial when interacting with them. Everyone has a different style of communicating and being able to n otice that and adjust to fit their style has been key for my developing strong, long-lasting relationships. Bryanne Lawless, BLND Public Relations12. Hunger and HumilityWhen I started my company, I was in debt. I had nothing, and it made me hungry. I realized I had to go after a client that had money. This is what helped me build a multimillion-dollar success from very little capital. Being hungry and humble allows us to focus on what truly matters. Diego Orjuela, Cables Sensors, LLC13. VulnerabilityMy whole product line started from me building my own community. I built that community on YouTube, where Im authentic, real, vulnerable, and available to my followers. I read comments, connect with them, tell them my problems, and give them an honest review. The only reason I was able to launch my product line is because I had a community of people who really trust me. Daisy Jing, BanishA version of this article originally appeared on SUCCESS.com.Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC) is an invite-only organization comprised of the worlds most promising young entrepreneurs. In partnership with Citi, YEC recently launched BusinessCollective, a free virtual mentorship program that helps millions of entrepreneurs start and grow businesses.