Ever wondered why people soak up every word that a truly successful person says? Or why, they seem to do less talking than the person engaging with them in conversation?

Successful people are unique. They don't need to buy a Ferrari (or any other car like this - if you get my gist)  to show that they have money, nor will they order the most expensive wine in a restaurant. They typically do not wear obvious designer briefs and they never tell you how good they are or what accomplishments they have made.

Instead, they listen attentively, ask questions and put the spotlight on others.

Someone who is successful and I am talking in the upper echelons of success (i.e. billionaires or at least with 50 million bucks in the bank), are bespoke. Instead of telling you how great they are, they are happy to find out about you and what makes you unique or special. 

In my time as an entrepreneur, I have met some of the most amazing people from every imaginable walk of life. I have been fascinated by success and revolted by people who are flashy (and tacky) or who desperately are looking for people to notice them. I always wonder why some people behave like they do and yet the people who really have a few notches on their belts in the success department, stand tall and say very little.

I learnt early on when I first met some seriously successful people that I would walk out of a room and know nothing about them, but somehow I spilled the beans on every aspect of my life. They have an art for asking the right questions, making you feel very comfortable with them and almost familiar rather than a stranger they met five minutes ago.

Successful people also talk slowly. Have you ever noticed that? I am not sure whether that is good education, or that they process what they say and choose their words more wisely.

I have also observed that successful people never put others down. Instead, they support, encourage and promote people that they believe in or have crossed their paths. They happily give up time to speak to people they deem worthy of a conversation, not based on how successful or important they are, but because they are worthy of their time.

Another thing that I have noted about successful people of all ages and that is that they never check their mobile phones when they are talking to you and they don't have facebook accounts. In fact, they don't waste time on things that are not conducive to giving them a better life or improving their knowledge or status quo.

And last but not least, many of the people that I have met that are successful are charismatic. They have an inner confidence and exude strength and positioning. But it is funny that when you actually get to know these people, this intimidating factor is diminished through familiarity and they become just like you and me.