12 Surprising Personality Traits of Billionaires Billionaires have reached where they are because of certain personality traits. As a matter of fact they just have 24 hours each day like the rest of the populace. Most started with nothing but in a period justa few years they managed to amass a fortune. What is that makes them different? These 21 traits separate them from the rest of the population. 1. Punctuality “A man has no right to occupy another man’stime unnecessarily.” Said John D Rockefeller, the first billionaire the world had. It is said John adhered to a strict time schedule and rarely granted appointments to strangers. In addition he preferred being approached in writing rather than by telephone. I guess thatgave him more control of his time. 2. Focus & Concentration Most people fail to make even their first million because of dabbling in too many things. Perhaps they need to take note of what John D. Rockefeller said about this issue. “Do not many of us who fail to achieve big things . . . fail because we lack concentration – the art of concentrating the mind on the thing to be done at the proper time and to the exclusion of everything else?”– John D. Rockefeller 3. Perseverance Nearly all wealthy people have persevered beyond where most people would reach. Thestory of Soichiro Honda (1906-1991), the founder of Honda Motor Corporation is one of perseverance. Young Honda started the company in 1937 tomanufacture piston rings. Even with initial failures he persevered and eventually won a contract to supply piston rings to Toyota, but lost it due to poor quality. But in 1941, after mastering the quality standards of Toyota, hestarted supplying the rings. Unfortunately, hisplant was bombed in 1944. The following year an earthquake flattens whatever that was left in the plant. He didn’t give up, but changed focus and started manufacturing motorized bicycles in 1946. He moved on andtried his hand in the automobile. As of March 2011, Honda hand 179,050 employees on its payroll and was the 8th largest car manufacturer in the world. 4. Self Reliant The quest for self reliance starts early in life for most billionaires. Billionaire Kirk Kerkorianstarted bringing income to the family at age 9. He says “You get a drive that’s a little different, maybe a little stronger, than somebody who inherited.” Warren Buffet bought his first shares and age 11. He also delivered newspapers and sold chewing gum- a clear demonstration of his of his desire for self reliance. Carlos Slim Helu, the Mexican billionaire is another example. ‘‘He invested in Governmentsaving bonds at the age of 11, tracking his purchases in a detailed ledger. By the age of 15 he had bought a small shareholding in Banco Nacional de Mexico – then the country’s largest bank.’’ The Telegraph of UK reports. 5. Spiritual/Religious Many Billionaires have been extremely religious. They believe in a supreme being in the universe that controls events. For John D Rockefeller religion came first. It is said he only missed 2 Sunday church sessions in entire life. “I don’t know if there’s a god or not, but I think religious principles are quite valid.” Bill Gates said in interview. 6. Disciplined It is nearly impossible to become a billionaire and maintain your wealth without discipline. Discipline means following the same scheduleevery day. Discipline means organizing your office, house, affairs in such a way that the ambition of becoming a multimillionaire is enhanced. 7. Rigid Most billionaires have specific processes that they use and are rigid to change. They take on one business model that works and rarelychange. Some are not technology savvy. For instance: “Slim is known for wearing inexpensive suits and rarely using the computers his companies sell, preferring old-style paper notebooks.” Reports the Huffington post 8. Optimistic It takes faith and optimism to do most thingslife. “I always knew I was going to be rich. I don’t think I ever doubted it for a minute.” Says Billionaire Warren Buffet. 9. Calm, Quiet & Curious Billionaires equate calmness to strength. “Success comes from keeping the ears open and the mouth closed.” John D. Rockefeller said. In fact, it is difficult to think well, a key trait that is required to manage wealth, whenyou are anxious. 10. Strategic Billionaires almost always make strategic decisions. They will acquire other companies;poach employees from rivals mainly because of strategy. 11. Precise You would never see a wealthy man do something sloppy. Right from their communication to the business strategy everything a wealthy man does is always precise. 12. Charitable Wealthy people are generous givers to causesthey cherish. Bill Gates is well known for his large philanthropic activities through his foundation. Warren Buffet is on record saying he will give most of his wealth to charity.