A podcast host who’s interviewed hundreds of CEOs, millionaires, and real-estate investors shares 3 traits of highly successful individuals
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- Brian Luebben has spoken with hundreds of successful individuals on his daily podcast.
- They have several traits in common, he’s observed. For starters, they have a clear vision.
- Successful people also tend to surround themselves with other successful people.
Brian Luebben’s job is to speak with successful people.
“The Action Academy,” a daily podcast hosted by the podcast host and business coach, features CEOs of major corporations, millionaire entrepreneurs, and real-estate investors who have built robust portfolios. He launched the show in 2021 while still working full-time in sales.
Luebben’s guests have achieved financial independence, allowing them to do “what they want, when they want, and with whom they want,” he told Insider. They also share a few characteristics.
1. They have a clear vision and set specific goals
Every successful person Luebben has met has “a crystal clear vision for what they want out of life,” he says. “They know exactly what they want.”
Having a strategy and clearly defined goals has also aided him.
“I wrote out a three-year vision for what I wanted my life and business to look like,” said Luebben, who wanted to leave corporate America and start his own business that he could run from anywhere in the world, when he was still working in sales. “I’m going to wake up in the morning and walk out onto hot cobblestones and see the ocean in front of me,” he said. I’ll have the entire morning to myself and won’t have to do anything until the afternoon, when I’ll have calls with my own team and business.”
In less than three years, in 2022, he’d amassed enough savings and revenue streams to comfortably leave his job.
2. They’re careful about who they surround themselves with
According to the adage, you are the average of the five people with whom you spend the most time. And successful people are drawn to other successful people.
Once they’ve established their vision, they look for people who have already done what they want to do, according to Luebben: “Instead of asking ‘how?’ they ask ‘where?’ and ‘who?’ They are not preoccupied with the question, ‘How do I do this thing?’ They ask, ‘What do I want to do, where am I going, and who has done it before?'”
Then they aren’t afraid to ask questions, seek assistance, or ask someone to collaborate with or mentor them.
If you’ve identified a potential mentor, don’t be vague in your approach, according to Luebben: “If you just say, ‘Hey, can I pick your brain?’ nobody will reply.” Instead, tell them exactly what you need help with — whether it’s finding affiliates for your podcast or acquiring your first rental unit — and demonstrate that you’ve already taken some form of action, such as watching their YouTube videos or reading a book they recommended.
“You start with a specific problem, you show proof of action, and you ask for specific help,” Luebben said. “That is how you find a mentor.” The majority of people will respond to that.”
3. They’re focused more on earning than saving
The wealthiest people Luebben has stated that he would rather spend his time thinking about ways to earn more money than ways to save more. After all, you can only save so much money — but your earning potential, especially as an entrepreneur, is limitless.
“They look at the life they want, their ideal life, and ask themselves, ‘How much does this cost me per month?'” $10,000? Okay, what do I need to do to generate the $10,000 needed to live my dream life?’ And that is all they obsess over.”
