3 Things the Smartest People Do That Make Them Incredibly Effective

Some choices you make will lead to success, a productive life, and very few regrets.

The average number of decisions a person makes each day is about 35,000. There's a heck of a lot of traffic going on between our ears, which may lead to either very good decisions or the type that will hold us back from achieving our best.

Smart people? They focus on the things they can control by making wise choices to shape the life they want.

You, too, can make the same wise choices that will lead to success, a productive life, and very few regrets.

A simple and workable plan

First, simplify things into a workable plan that you can incorporate into your daily life. The strategy is to keep you from making dumb choices, right? Focus daily on these three choice areas and success will be just around the corner.

1. Put the past behind you and move oN

In a previous tweet, Corcoran Group founder and Shark Tank star Barbara Corcoran imparted this bit of truth to her followers:

That's what smart and successful entrepreneurs do. They bounce back, learn from their mistakes, fail forward, and forget the rest.

Having a mindset of putting "the past in the past" releases you from the chains of guilt and regret. Face it--your mistake cannot be undone. But you can choose to learn from it and move on.

2. Take action

Smart and successful people won't sit on decisions waiting for urgency to come knocking. They take risks and create urgency with intent and purpose, driving themselves closer toward their goals or personal mission.

However, don't confuse "taking risks" and "driving" with a license to steamroll full speed ahead with your big ideas without soliciting feedback. Smart people seek counsel from many sources before making a decision on important matters.

3. Never stop learning and growing

Finally, the smartest people I know are lifelong learners. They never stop learning and never assume they know everything. That's why they show interest in basking in the wisdom of others. This is what initiates the best conversations -- learning about what other people do, how they do it, and why they do it.

People love to talk about themselves, so smart people are smart enough to let them. They are curious, ask questions, and learn from others. They show up to conversations with the humble gesture of "I want to learn from you." This is a recipe for success.

Source: Inc.com