8 Traits of Successful People

Level: Pre intermediate and above

Time for completion: 20 min

Introduction

Ten years of research and 500 face-to-face-interviews led Richard St. John to a collection of eight common traits in successful leaders around the world.

https://youtu.be/NOl0v54DaXo

Useful vocabulary

Out of the blue: If something happens out of the blue, it is completely unexpected

Summit: the highest point of a mountain

Puke: to vomit

Improve: to get better

Persist: to try to do or continue doing something in a determined but often unreasonable way

Listening

Choose TWO letters for each answer

Which TWO people are heroes for Mr St John?

A a religious person

B a politician

C a sports person

D an IT genius

Which TWO things has he done in his life that he is proud of?

A won an acting award

B won communications awards

C Been at the top of a mountain

D Sailed a boat in Antartica

Which TWO of these professionals has he interviews for his success project?

A Actors

B Publicists

C Amateur writers

D Astronauts

Which TWO of these traits does his include in his list of 8 to be great?

A Service work

B Ambitions

C A good mentor

D Self improvement

Answers:

1 C and D

2 B and C

3 A and D

4 A and D

David S. Wills

David S. Wills is the author of Scientologist! William S. Burroughs and the 'Weird Cult' and the founder/editor of Beatdom literary journal. He lives and works in rural Cambodia and loves to travel. He has worked as an IELTS tutor since 2010, has completed both TEFL and CELTA courses, and has a certificate from Cambridge for Teaching Writing. David has worked in many different countries, and for several years designed a writing course for the University of Worcester. In 2018, he wrote the popular IELTS handbook, Grammar for IELTS Writing and he has since written two other books about IELTS. His other IELTS website is called IELTS Teaching.