Key Character Traits of People Who Become Millionaires
Emily Theune
Researcher
Copywriter
Anyone with big dreams of financial security might want to become a millionaire one day. That’s a nice thought, but it takes consistent hard work and the right character traits to reach that status. Check out the traits millionaires have so you can cultivate them within yourself.
1. They use self-reflection to understand their core values.
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Everyone has at least a few core values. They’re how you decide what matters to you and how you live your life. Millionaires actively identify their values to understand what’s motivating their professional lives. Once they match those values to a goal or business idea, they know success is more likely because they’ll care about what they’re doing.
2. They have goal-driven mentalities.
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Successful people are always working toward at least one long-term goal. It helps to have short-term goals along the way, but maintaining a primary goal gives you focus. You’ll always know you’re progressing toward your eventual millionaire status if you keep a goal-driven mentality in your work life.
3. They use time management to strengthen their mental health.
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If you’re always looking at one large, looming goal, you’ll likely feel overwhelmed. Breaking that goal into actionable steps through time-management scheduling tools prevents that from happening. It’s such a useful skill—it even reduces depression and anxiety symptoms, which means you can stay energized on the way to your dreams.
4. They foster their own courage.
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Deciding what you want for yourself and pursuing it takes courage. You might need to break societal norms or expectations to reach your millionaire status. People might not always understand what you’re doing, and that’s okay. Millionaires often have to be their own source of courage by remembering the core values motivating them to reach their dreams.
5. They accept the reality of risks.
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When you start living life differently, you’ll encounter more risks both professionally and personally. This is especially true when you’re investing in your dreams financially. Successful millionaires accept that some risks are standard when pursuing big dreams, not a negative reflection of their skills or a sign of ultimate failure.
6. They become friends with their anxiety.
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People who thrive in high-functioning positions like business ownership use their anxiety to analyze constant tiny details and create the best plans for their success. That means being in touch with their anxiety, and not letting it overwhelm them.
Millionaires feel more anxiety because they’re doing things differently to earn more money. They accept their anxiety and use it as an advantageous, high-functioning business skill.
7. They cultivate a realistic ego.
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You have to be your own cheerleader when you’re chasing big dreams. The people you love might not understand or fully support what you’re doing when it would be easier to live a comfortable life with a traditional career. However, the best millionaires keep their egos in check with other key character traits like knowing when to graciously ask for help.
8. They accept help when needed.
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It’s nice to think every millionaire reached their financial status by themselves, but they rarely do. It’s good to accept help when you’re doing something you aren’t good at, like getting a marketing advisor when you only have experience in managing your company’s finances.
Successful people know that even the smartest minds in the world don’t know how to do everything, so asking for help when you need it is a skill. It’s also how you can keep your ego in check as you cheer yourself toward your millionaire status.
9. They keep an open mind.
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Optimizing your dreams to become a millionaire means keeping an open mind to new ideas. Fresh perspectives and strategies help you think outside the box which often prevents others from reaching bigger financial goals. You’ll foster greater innovation by encouraging this character trait in yourself and those working alongside you.
10. They know when to be extroverted.
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Millionaires know that if they constantly surround themselves with people, they’ll eventually feel burnt out. Socializing uses up your extra energy, so picking and choosing extroverted moments requires skill. You’ll maintain your mental health by scheduling your most extroverted events at a pace that allows you to recharge between social moments.
11. They take time to rest.
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Achieving the perfect blend of extroverted efforts and introverted rest periods gives you more energy for hobbies, a wider social circle, and improved mental well-being. You won’t get burnt out on the way to your money dreams if you prioritize your rest after work hours and take breaks throughout your day.
12. They view productivity as a dynamic achievement.
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Think of productivity as a dynamic achievement, not a concrete goal you have to meet every day. One day’s productivity might look different than another’s if you didn’t get enough sleep, aren’t feeling well, or are dealing with challenges in your personal life. If you value the changing nature of productivity, you’ll keep conquering your to-do lists without discouragement or frustration slowing you down.
13. They listen to others.
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Millionaires value learning from others with active listening skills they refine every day. Active listening means listening without judgment and asking questions when you don’t understand something. You’ll learn more about things like consumer needs or market growth potential that gets you closer to major dollar signs if you don’t try to do everything yourself.
14. They’re always looking to improve their skills.
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If team leadership is your strong suit, then you know it’s one of your most effective tools that constantly needs sharpening. The most successful people are always reading tips, taking online courses, listening to their mentors, and looking up to role models to become better at what they do. Prioritize learning opportunities to maintain the skills that will get you to your high-earning status.
15. They’re passionate about what drives them.
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Identifying and reflecting on your biggest passions is a key part of becoming a millionaire. Your passions give your eventual financial status more meaning. Whether you’re passionate about taking care of your family, creating opportunities in your community, or solving environmental challenges, foster those primary motivations to stay on track in your professional life.
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Emily Theune is a senior freelance copywriter who writes blog posts for small business owners in the wedding industry, in addition to other niches. She honed her skills over nearly a decade in the digital marketing industry and now works one-on-one with business owners who want more leads.
Emily earned a BFA in Creative Writing from the University of North Carolina Wilmington along with a minor in English and a Certificate in Publishing. When she’s not exploring the world with her husband and two dogs, she’s working on her latest novel.
