Are You A Maker Or A Taker?

These 12 characteristics determine whether you will be a success or a failure.

1. Confidence. 

Makers know they will succeed and do not care whether others believe in them or not. 

Takers draw upon others for their motivation and constantly worry what others will think.

2. Commitment. 

Makers find the resources within themselves to run the race and turn roadblocks into speed bumps. 

Takers look to their institutions and their families to protect them from the risks of failure.

3. Persistence. 

Makers choose to do things that they would rather avoid if they are necessary to achieve  their goal. 

Takers have a multitude of excuses why they sat on their baksides when something needed doing.

4. Selectivity. 

Makers constantly assess what they see and experience, focusing on what is useful and filtering out what is useless. 

Takers immerse themselves in the mindless distraction of broadcast media.

5. Awareness. 

Makers focus upon their own behaviour and how it impacts the behaviour of others. 

Takers waste endless hours speculating about what other people are doing and why they are doing it.

6. Courage. 

Makers have the courage to make changes in the world around them, even when everything seems okay. 

Takers crave the security of knowing that things will not change and do everything they can to keep the status quo.

7. Mastery. 

Makers work on essential skills and techniques until they have completely mastered them. 

Takers try out new skills or techniques and give up when they do not immediately get the desired result.

8. Control. 

Makers see themselves as captains of their own destiny rather than pawns of fate. 

Takers think that their success is a matter of luck, fate or divine intervention, none of which is within their control.

9. Responsibility. 

Makers see problems and think "Great! How can I help change this for the better?" 

Takers see problems and think "Damn! I wish somebody would come fix these problems."

10. Gratitude. 

Makers deeply appreciate the help they have recieved and never take it for granted. 

Takers wonder why everyone else is not doing a whole lot more to help them get what they want.

11. Generosity. 

Makers step up and give of their own when they see others in need. 

Takers complain when they think some people might be getting something that they do not really deserve.

12. Perspective. 

Makers realize that they are successful because they are "standing on the shoulders of giants." 

Takers think that they are successful because they have built everything themselves.

So are YOU a "Maker" or a "taker?"

Ange Fonce