Success comes in many different forms and means something different to each of us. Maybe it’s graduating college when everyone thought you would fail or maybe it’s going back to college to provide a better life for you and your family. It could be having a great marriage when your parents thought he was a loser. Or maybe it’s getting that promotion at work or quitting that job to start your own business.

We all measure success differently, but there are a few habits that almost every successful woman has.

  1. She Sets Goals

Successful women set goals. They know what they want their life to look like so they set goals to get them there. They create an action plan to achieve those goals. They are constantly evolving their action plan and creating new goals.

Successful women create goals both personally and professionally because they know that success isn’t just measured by the career they have.

Start Small: Grab the action plan to help you lay out and organize your goals and how to achieve them.

  1. She Stays Educated

Education does not mean being a perpetual student. Education comes in all forms, from staying informed on current events to taking a cooking class.

Successful women are well versed in a variety of subjects and are constantly reading, researching and digesting new information. If there is a subject she doesn’t know a whole lot about, she will spend the time to learn about it.

Start Small: Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn but never got around to doing it? Try Coursera! Coursera offers courses completely online from a ton of different universities and the best part is that most of them are free! I recently took a financial accounting fundamentals course because my journal entry skills were rusty.

  1. She Tries Something New

Successful women do not shy away from a challenge. They thrive on learning something new and are open to new experiences

Successful women know that staying in a rut will only limit their success. They are constantly stepping outside their comfort zone because they know that the opportunities are unimaginable.

Start Small: A lot of times we are resistant to trying something new because no one wants to try it with us. We’re social creatures and feel more comfortable doing something when someone we know is along for the ride. To start small, go see a movie by yourself. The first time I did this, I was embarrassed and thought that everyone would be looking at me and wondering why I was alone. Buy it was fantastic. There were only a few of us in the theater and no one gave me a second look.

  1. She Manages Her Stress

Life is stressful. You know that saying, ‘nothing is certain but death and taxes’? Well I think it’s more like, ‘nothing is certain but death, taxes and stress’. No matter how hard we try, there is always something to stress out about.

Successful women know that stress is a part of life and there really is no way to escape it but there are ways to manage it such as yoga, journaling, meditation, aromatherapy, etc.

Start Small: If you’re looking for ways to manage stress, one small thing you can do right now is get outside and go for a walk. Being outside in nature while breathing in that fresh air and working those muscles has been shown to reduce stress and contribute to feelings of wellbeing and happiness.

  1. She Practices Self-Care

Successful women know how important their own wellbeing is to their success. With meetings, emails and phone call, not to mention picking the kids up from school, homework, preparing dinner and baths, a success woman knows that she needs to take a break from the hustle and bustle of life.

She knows that she can’t possibly take care of everyone else’s needs without first taking care of her own.

Start Small: I know a lot of women feel guilty taking time out for themselves, but you’re not doing any one any good by not taking care of yourself. So give yourself a break and do something just for you today. It could be just going for a walk around the block by yourself, or locking yourself in the bathroom with some bubbles, candles and a nice glass of wine or maybe it’s going and getting a pedi after work one day.

  1. She Stays Social

I’ve never met a successful women who was a hermit. Successful women socialize. They know the importance of staying connected with people and that the best way to get what they want is to network. People are always willing to help someone they know.

Successful women know that they can’t make it to the top without help from other’s. They also know that while socializing and networking is a huge part of their professional success, they also realize that socializing with friends and family is just as important.

Start Small: Socializing professionally can be a little daunting sometimes. I always used to say no to networking events in my field. But I started going to them in order to get a better job and it worked. Not only did I get a better job but I made several new friends too. Just remember that you are there for a reason and so are they so there is no reason to be shy or embarrassed.

  1. She Celebrates the Wins

Successful women recognize wins regardless of how big they are. They celebrate even the smallest win because they know that those small wins have the potential to lead to big wins. They also know that by celebrating the small wins, they are gaining momentum in achieving their goals.

Start Small: A small win can be anything. Maybe it’s completing your to-do list or smiling through a day from hell or preparing dinner with the only three ingredients left in the fridge. Celebrating these small wins can really get you into a positive mindset and when you’re in that positive mindset, the big stuff doesn’t seem so big.

  1. She’s Financially Fit

The successful woman has goals related to her financial wellbeing. She knows how important financial security is to her and her family. She prepares. She knows that no matter how great she is at her job, she may not have it tomorrow so she’s smart about her finances.

Successful women know where their money is coming from and how their money is spent. They never forget about an expense and they pay all of their bills on time.

They never follow financial advice blindly, instead they research and learn about the best way to budget and save their money. They make sound, informed financial decisions and are always prepared in case of an unexpected expense.

Start Small: The first thing you should do on your road to financial security is to create a budget. Start with a budget tracker and create your action plan for financial success.

  1. She Never Compares Herself to Others

Successful women never compare themselves to other women. They know that other women can be wonderful allies and friends. Successful women know that every woman is different and that each woman in on her own journey.

They know that jealously and resentment only stifle their own success. Instead of comparing themselves to other women, they instead celebrate them.

Start Small: Sometimes this can be really hard. I’m guilty of this myself. But just realizing that you’re not meant to live someone else’s story is a game changer. Next time you feel the need to compare yourself to someone else, maybe try to get to know them. I know this isn’t always possible but if you can get to know them, you’ll see how different you are and that the comparison doesn’t hold up.

  1. She’s Kind

Last but certainly not least, a successful woman is kind. She appreciates the little things and is always quick to express her gratitude. She knows that being kind can open up so many more doors and opportunities because people like doing things for people that they like.

Kindness goes along way and can sometimes turn someone’s day around. The successful women doesn’t want to contribute to someone’s bad day or make life harder on someone than it should be. Instead they smile and give thanks.

Start Small: Sometimes it’s difficult to flip that frown, especially when you’re surrounded by irritating people. However, it’s actually the easiest thing in the world to do. Just give a stranger a little smile, I’m not talking about a full on grin, but a smile goes a long way to lift spirits, yours and theirs.

Final Thoughts

Success is more than the amount of money in the bank, the clothes you wear or the car you drive, it’s about who you are and how you live your life. Regardless of how you measure success, implementing these 10 habits into your daily routine can set you up for success and help you achieve your goals.