More times than not, we correlate success with talent. That someone who achieved success, must have had a talent that others don’t.

However, while professionals excel, so do the underdogs.

Success is not merely created by talent alone, but perseverance.

Hanging in our office is a poster that you’ll probably recognize.

It reads:

These behaviors are what we have control over. They require zero talent but have a huge impact on our success.

Being on Time

“Being on time to appointments and meetings is a phase of self-discipline and an evidence of self-respect. Punctuality is a courteous compliment the intelligent person pays to his/her associates,” Marvin Ashton.

Work Ethic

"Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it all away from you," Mark Cuban.

Effort

“Effort will release it’s reward only after you refuse to quit,” Napoleon Hill.

Body Language

“Language is a more recent technology. Your body language, your eyes, your energy will come through to your audience before you even start speaking,” Peter Guber.

Energy

“Energy is contagious: either you affect people or you infect people,” T. Harv Eker.

Attitude

“Adopting the right attitude can convert a negative stress into a positive one,” Hans Selye.

Passion

“When you have a passion for something then you tend not only to be better at it, but you work harder too,” Vera Wang.

Being Coachable

“You must always be the apprentice even when you become the master,” Christopher Cumby.

Doing Extra

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just a little extra,” Jimmy Johnson.

Being Prepared

“The best preparation for good work tomorrow I to do good work today,” Elbert Hubbard.

These skills anyone can acquire with practice.

Even the greatest successors didn’t rely on what they were born with.

Instead, they adapted to their surroundings and learned new things to achieve great things.