Career success can mean very different things to different people. It can be about reaching positions of power, making lots of money, finding challenging and fulfilling roles or making a positive difference to others, or a combination of these things. Whatever their personal goals though, people must have the right attitude to get where they want to be. Here, we take a look at some of the most important attributes when it comes to climbing the career ladder.

Staying positive

A positive approach can take people a long way. All business leaders will tell you they have experienced lows as well as highs during their careers. It’s easy to look at entrepreneurs like Richard Branson with his global business empire and Appco Group founder and chairman Chris Niarchos’ wealth and assume that these people have always had it easy. In fact, like all businesspeople, they have experienced their share of problems. What sets these individuals apart is their resilience and their ability to remain upbeat even when things aren’t going their way.

Having clear targets

Whether people want to head up their own companies, land specific jobs within organisations or they have other ambitions, establishing clear targets and sticking to them is essential. It’s easy to get distracted by other things, but deciding on a precise path and following it can help people to stay focussed and ultimately reach their goals. Individuals can set themselves a range of targets, such as making specific promotions by a particular stage, growing a company at a certain rate or completing professional qualifications within a predetermined timeframe.

Being preparing to put in the graft

Virtually all career success stories involve hard graft – and plenty of it. People have to be prepared to put in the effort required to reach the positions they want. This might involve working long days, taking on high-pressured positions or fitting study around their jobs. Sustaining this level of effort isn’t easy and not everyone can do it, but for those who can, the rewards can be immense.

Bear in mind though, to help them keep a healthy perspective and avoid burnout due to excessive stress, it’s important for even the most ambitious people to factor some relaxation time into their busy schedules. Many of the most successful individuals appreciate the importance of achieving a sustainable balance that means they have at least some time to sit back and enjoy the rewards of their hard work.