Why Successful People Engage in These 7 Types of Hobbies If you want to be more successful, consider how you're spending your time. Successful people have a lot of similarities in how they spend their time and what they enjoy doing.
By Amy M Chambers Edited by Kara McIntyre
Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
Not all hobbies are created equal. Over the last decade, I've obsessively studied success (and what successful people do) by reading a book/month on the topic, researching it (so I could write my own books on it) and being mentored by both CEOs and executive coaches. I've found nearly all successful people are intentional and deliberate about how they spend their time. When it comes to their hobbies, watching television or reading tabloids doesn't rank high. Here's what does.
More from the author: 6 Habits of Powerful People
1. Creation, not consumption
Successful people love putting their natural gifts and talents to work. They also are often driven by a sense of purpose and meaning. Most successful people want to make a difference in the lives of others and the world. Thus, successful people often like having something to show for their time. They like exploring their creative outlets.
As such, they tend to develop hobbies that involve them designing or producing something. Examples include writing, scrapbooking, gardening, photography and art. Successful people like to access the creative and innovative parts of their brains, so they often enjoy doing things they can improve on through consistent practice. They're far more likely to spend hours building something with their own hands (or their mind) than watching television, playing video games or aimlessly surfing the web.
Related: 6 Ways to Become a Better Listener
Former President George W. Bush told The Washington Post he spends two to three hours a day painting. According to Business Insider, Meryl Streep knits and Kate Middleton colors. Warren Buffet's love for the ukulele spans decades.
2. Doing things that are both challenging and new
Successful people often have growth mindsets, which means they view their personalities, attributes and skillsets as malleable and ever-changing instead of fixed and permanent. As such, successful people often seek out hobbies that challenge and stretch them and their abilities. They seek out things that are difficult instead of easy and comfortable. They enjoy putting themselves in new situations because they know that's a key way to grow and evolve, which is a goal for them.
For example, in the last eight years, I've taken up marathon running, skiing and snorkeling — all things I'd never previously attempted. These activities have now become some of my biggest hobbies and garner a lion's share of my time. Carol Dweck, who holds a Ph.D. from Yale and is a faculty member at Stanford, explains this in her famous book, Mindset: How You Can Fulfill Your Potential.
Related: 5 Things You Really Need to Do When Starting Your Own Business
3. Building relationships with like-minded people
Most successful people enjoy influencing others, but also being influenced. Successful people find value in building relationships and bonds with others. But, take note: These interactions transcend the simple act of "going out for a few beers with the guys." Successful people like learning about the values and viewpoints of others and having their own ways of thinking challenged. Thus, successful people often find themselves in conversations with others about ideas, not other people. They actively seek out others who will challenge them and aid in their journey of self-discovery and regularly spend time with those people sharing meals, going on adventures and making memories together.
Related: Check Out Amy Chamber's Youtube Channel For Motivation Content
Successful people also value their relationships with their families. Most successful people make ample time for their spouse and children, as well as the rest of their families because they believe family is important. They don't view a trip to the park or zoo with those they care about most as a wasted Sunday. Stephen Covey's book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which has sold over 60 million copies, explains this.
4. Exercise or physical activity
Many successful people believe in a balance between their minds and bodies, so they routinely exercise and view physical activity as a hobby. Successful people often play organized sports or have a tremendous passion for individual activities such as hiking, cycling, rollerblading or swimming. Many successful people don't exercise just for the sake of exercising. Instead, they work to hone their skills in it; some even hire a coach to help them train. These sports and activities bring us joy and fulfillment. Successful people know that being active and getting movement affects their mood and well-being, so many engage in it at least three to five times a week, if not more. According to Business Insider, Michelle Obama runs and Condoleezza Rice golfs.
5. Learning
Because of their growth mindset, successful people are eager to challenge their minds. They don't view the end of formal education as the end of their development and learning. For many successful people, continuous learning is a hobby. They enjoy reading several books a year or listening to podcasts while they drive or work out because they want to be connected to new ideas and information. Oprah Winfrey is an avid reader. Others attend seminars or go to museums. There are countless ways to make learning a hobby.
6. Travel
Travel is another common hobby for successful people. This stems from a desire to continuously grow and evolve. Travel produces new experiences for us and can also be a major driver of gratitude. Experiencing other cultures (especially those dissimilar to our own) is a way of expanding our horizons and becoming more aware. Successful people not only enjoy taking in the vast beauty of the world, but they find beauty in all their interactions with people in other regions. Larry Ellison, Oracle CTO and former CEO, sails as a hobby.
More from the author: Does Your Job Have a Toxic Work Environment? 6 Clues That You May Be the Culprit.
7. Giving back
Because successful people have created lives for themselves where they have a relative abundance of wealth, health and time, many want to give something back. Most successful people feel and express gratitude for what life has bestowed on them (and what they've also made happen for themselves) and they now enjoy helping enrich the lives of others. Giving back takes place in many ways. Successful people regularly volunteer or do some form of community service and outreach. Others contribute time to non-profit organizations, local politics or sit on a variety of boards. Still others are heavily involved with their churches. Whatever the act, it's quite common for successful people to make a hobby out of giving back. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a great example.
If you want to be more successful, consider taking up these types of hobbies. Successful people often believe in a balance between our mental, emotional, social, spiritual and physical health. The more of these seven types of activities that you do, the more you'll find that you're leading a balanced and enriched life full of passion, purpose and fulfillment.
Check out Amy Chambers' book, 7 V.I.R.T.U.E.S. of Exceptional Leaders which is out now. Buy it now from Good Reads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Walmart
