11 secrets to success according to 80+ elite performers
“I don’t think about my life in terms of ‘superstar.’ I’m just a workin’ girl. I always say, and it’s the truth, that I am a workhorse that looks like a show horse.” —Dolly Parton, May 2025 When I heard the news of Dolly Parton’s passing, this quote came to mind. A woman known to the entire world when asked to describe herself, described her work. That distinction between show horse and workhorse…
The interviewees in the study attributed 11 distinct qualities as keys to achieving outstanding performance. Contrary to expectations, the most frequently mentioned trait was not intense effort, but rather consistency in showing up and performing the fundamentals regularly. The second most important quality was humility, which is the willingness to continue learning and improving rather than believing one has already arrived.
The remaining qualities included embracing one's unique approach, building a supportive team, prioritizing others' success, mastering skills over immediate results, being open to public failure, staying fully present in the moment, pushing through physical and mental challenges, adopting a long-term perspective, and recognizing that extreme success is ultimately within one's control.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
