Why are some people more successful than others?

Some people are more successful than others. Why is that?
Is it intelligence?
Is it education?
Is it "who you know, not what you know..."?
Are the educated and intelligent people always the most successful?
If we could answer these questions, we might gain some valuable insights.
I wish to make a claim; I claim that "Success is predictable".

Success has certain definite causes:
I want to write about the causes so that that each of us may act on them and, in so doing, become more successful.
Let us first define our terms.
What is success?
Success is defined as "the achievement a goal". Therefore our first observation is: Success requires a goal. The identification of a goal a prerequisite of success. Yet we know that many people do not set goals.

Verify this for yourself:
Ask the next twenty people you talk to for their goals list. Most will not have one. Many people have NO goals. It is a strange phenomenon. Because if success means "the achievement of a goal" then the first step must be to "write the goal down."

Sufficient intelligence
"Knowing the goal" is not enough to be successful. A certain level of intelligence is required to achieve the goal because success will demand that you solve problems. If we define intelligence as: "The ability to solve the problems that face you". Then "intelligence" means that you have the capacity to solve the problems that stand between you and the achievement of the goal. But bear in mind that you do not have to be a "Genius" to be successful.

Sufficient education
Intelligence and Mental capacity are not enough. You may have a large "mental capacity" but nothing of value stored in it. The guy is brainy but lacks education! You need sufficient Knowledge relating specifically to your goal. Because in order to solve your problems a certain level of special knowledge and expertise will be necessary. Therefore a level of specialised knowledge and education will be a prerequisite for your success. Education should be continuous and purposefully related to the goal for which one is striving.

Good social skills
But that is still not enough!
Success demands that you are Harmonious. Harmonious means: "Able to work in concert with others". The achievement of a goal will require the cooperation of others. Therefore good social skills would be beneficial to you. Poor social skills will be a serious liability. How able are you to forge productive working relationships with others? Do you have habits that prevent effective relationships?
If "yes" make the necessary changes in your personality. You owe it to your family!

Good character
Harmoniousness on its own is still not enough. On a deeper level, your actions are guided by your
Good character that you have built up over the years. Your character is "the sum total of your thoughts, values and habitual actions". There are two particular characteristics traits that invite success

Honesty
Honest is vital and has two aspects:
1. Honest with regard to property : Fraudulence or thieving will cause failure.
2. Honesty in regard to a respect for truth; Lying or cheating will cause failure.
Why?
Nobody wants to work with a dishonest person. Dishonesty will cause failure. Honesty will promote long term success

Industriousness
You must be a good worker. Being willing to work is a powerful indicator of success. Being lazy is a powerful indicator of failure. If we combine the above to say that success will be attracted to the
people who are.

Honest and hardworking, and success is repelled by those who are. Dishonest and lazy, now we have something to work with.
Here is a list of success attributes:
1. Clear written goals
2. A problem solving intelligence
3. Sufficient specialised education
4. Good social skills
5. Honesty
6. Industriousness

Here is the opposing list for failure:
1. Drifting: No goal focus, waiting for your luck to change.
2. Unwillingness to take the initiative to solve problems as they come up.
3. Unwillingness to study and learn new skills and master changes in technology.
4. Any disagreeable habits or any poor social skills.
5. Habitual dishonest in any form
6. Habitual laziness.

Check yourself against this list and see what you can learn.