The Real Reasons High Achievers Succeed (They Might Not Be What You Think)

Let’s clear something up.

A lot of people think success is all about being naturally talented.

Sure, talent helps. But sometimes it can actually get in the way. And plenty of high achievers aren’t the smartest, the most gifted, or even the most confident when they start out.

Another popular myth? That people just get wildly lucky. You know that thought: “They were just in the right place at the right time.”

Luck does certainly play a role (we’ve all had those magic moments), but we can also play a hand in shaping our own luck.

So if you’ve ever looked at someone crushing it and thought, “That could never be me - I don’t have the talent” or “life just hasn’t dealt me the right cards,” - pause right there. There’s more in your control than you think.

Psychologist Bobby Hoffman spent years studying top performers - from Oscar winners to elite athletes, Wall Street leaders to politicians. What did he find? Success wasn’t about genius or luck. It came down to a handful of habits and traits that anyone - yes, you - can learn.

To be clear, success doesn’t have to mean “best in the world.” At The Empiria Project, we believe that your version might look completely different to the person next to you. For some, it’s about steady progress and feeling fulfilled, not trophies or titles.

Wherever you’re heading, these four habits can shift everything:

1. Have a plan (and actually track it)

High achievers don’t leave their future up to fate. They plan like strategists. Hoffman noticed they’re constantly checking in, adjusting, and tracking progress.

Try this: set a weekly check-in with yourself. What moved forward (even just a little)? Where did you drift? What’s next?

2. Back yourself

Instead of brushing off wins with, “Oh, I just got lucky,” top performers say:
“I worked for this. I earned this. I can do hard things.”

Albert Bandura called this self-efficacy. It’s the belief that you can succeed and this belief can fuel your grit where others might choose to quit.

So when was the last time you actually gave yourself credit? Big or small, find evidence of your own growth. Then own it.

3. Failures are fuel

Every top performer Bobby tracked had this in common: they didn’t chase perfection. They chased growth.

Setbacks weren’t stop signs, they were redirections. (Mel Robbins is big on this one.)

High achievers see failure as part of the deal - even a requirement of the deal. The real difference is in how fast they brush themselves off and go again.

So, next time you mess up (because it will happen), ask yourself: How do I turn this into momentum?

4. Cultivate connections

Here’s one thing Hoffman noticed again and again: nobody succeeds alone.

Finance professionals, Oscar-winning actors, politicians - all of them built networks of people who kept them grounded, gave feedback, and cheered them on. Neuroscience backs this up: meaningful connections are essential for resilience and long-term success.

So, who’s in your corner? Who are you cheering on in return?

High achievers aren’t unicorns. They set goals and tracked them. They backed themselves. They treated failure as feedback. And they built their power circles.

That’s it. That’s the playbook.

And if you’re wondering whether this applies to you? As Bobby Hoffman reminds us:

“Celebrities would not, and do not accept anything less - and so can you.”