Why are some people more successful than others?

A lot of people who claim to be rich and successful—and I say "claim" because we don't know for a fact that they are—act as if it's all them...and that luck had nothing to do with it.

But the fact is, there are 6 specific factors that contribute to anyone's success or lack thereof—and luck is clearly one of them:

#1 - Intelligence.

Some people are just smarter than others.

Intelligence is a result of genetics and environment—your upbringing.

Since heredity and the home you are born into are determined purely by chance, intelligence is largely a matter of luck.

By the way, by "smart" I don't mean "book smart".

I mean smart at anything that can make money—whether it's business, art, computers, or whatever.

#2 - Knowledge.

Successful people are students for life.

They are constantly acquiring specific knowledge in their business or field—as well as a large storehouse of knowledge on all sorts of other topics.

As a rule, the more you learn, the more you earn.

#3 - Effort.

The cliché about working smarter, not harder, is B.S.

Successful people work both smarter—and harder—than others.

#4 - Attitude.

Successful people have an attitude. But it's not an attitude of ripping people off...or making as much money as they can any way they can.

It's an attitude of service: of giving their customers (and others) more value than they have any right to expect.

Many successful people are also goal-oriented, and it is important to them to become successful. So they focus their efforts on achievement of that goal.

#5 - Aptitude.

We tend to be good at things we like and have an aptitude for.

Financially successful people just happen to have an aptitude and talent for things that make money.

Warren Buffett has said that the reason for his great wealth is that he was born with aptitudes and talents for which our society offers huge financial rewards.

Some of us are good at stuff, but not stuff that pays well. And if we pursue those interests exclusively, our incomes can be limited as a result.

#6 - Luck.

As you can see, the key success factors of intelligence (#1) and aptitudes (#5) are determined mainly by chance—and are largely beyond our control.

Yes, Warren Buffett studied finance, worked hard, and had the right attitude.

But he was also lucky, as is virtually every person who has achieved significant wealth, success, or accomplishment in life.

The honest ones admit this and are thankful.

Any rich or successful person who said luck had no part in his achievement is either in denial or unwilling to come clean.

Therefore, if you are successful, you should be humble, not arrogant and boastful.

After all, you were lucky. Right?