16 Negative Things Smart People Have Given Up to Be Successful

13. Having Feet of Clay

Being successful means doing something others either can’t do or don’t do as well. Holding the belief that you can achieve something extraordinary is a necessary first step to reaching your goals. You should back your belief with the passion and skill to deliver. Knowing your limits and weaknesses is as equally important, so you can build up your strengths.

Having supportive people around who will hold up an honest mirror when necessary is important for the ongoing success of any leader. You can only learn and grow if you are honest with yourself. Being comfortable enough with yourself and your power to admit weaknesses to others is a way to show your humanity, make yourself relatable and build a connection with your followers.

Many successful leaders prefer to hear from yes-men, but eventually, they lose their success and reputation to hubris. For example, exposure of sexual predators in the entertainment industry was a major theme in the news for 2017. Yet successful leaders must retain a strong belief in themselves to pass on their optimism and passion for their goals to their followers.

People respect the abilities of successful people. But they also appreciate the respect they receive in turn when a leader asks for their help. Having feet of clay helps when gathering loyal supporters around to leverage their efforts and strengths with your own. Knowing your weaknesses and finding support in those areas makes you stronger. Being human can help make you a more successful leader.