Financial Blog

We all have dreams of being successful. For most, the measuring stick of being successful is the storybook of those who’ve made it big. We see them in magazines, on the TV, and even in the movies. Names that have become so big–so familiar–that they’ve become synonymous with their field.

Read more: Success Secrets of Self-Made Filipino Millionaires

Here’s a look at some of their habits, everyday normal things or routines they do that sets them apart and—most importantly–that we all could emulate. They may not be groundbreaking but results should speak for themselves. After all, it’s usually the minute details, the smallest things that make the biggest difference.

Who doesn’t know Bill Gates? Microsoft, his mega-successful Silicon Valley empire, has touched just billions around the globe. What you might not know, is that Mr. Gates has an insatiable love for books – insatiable being an understatement. He follows a 1-book-a-week habit religiously. That’s about 50 or so books per year!

For him, learning is a never-ending quest, and that the things you read doesn’t necessarily need to be academic to be worthwhile. His advice: read things that interest you, stuff that gets your mind worked up and gets you excited. A book a week might not be viable for most but everyone has to start somewhere. Start by picking up a book and commit to it until the last page, even if it takes you weeks.

A well-known rags-to-riches story, Henry Sy’s ascent to the top of Forbes Philippines 50 Richest wasn’t a walk in the park. From his sari-sari store beginnings in Quiapo (which was ravaged by fire), the onset of WWII, Martial Law, the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, to various challenges to his growing empire, Mr. Sy never wavered in his goal to become successful.

The moral of the story: don’t let setbacks be the end of the road. Instead, like Mr. Sy who didn’t back down when things get tough, try to look at problems as opportunities for improvement. It is said that there is a solution to everything, so get up, brush the dirt off your shoes, and go to where you should be.

One would think that the third richest man on the planet is an overworked, round-the-clock founder at the beck and call of his company. Not Jeff Bezos. While he heads arguably the most powerful e-commerce site on earth, the online retail magnate does not skimp on a full eight-hour sleep. Yes, full eight hours—now that’s something most of us probably gave up on.

Running on fumes and pushing your mental and physical capacity to the limit won’t do you and your work any good. Aside from the stress that builds up, your efficiency and ability to make good decisions and your creative juice to come up with groundbreaking ideas will take a hit. Of course, a complete night’s rest varies from person to person. Whether it’s 6 or 8 hours of sleep, try to make a conscious effort in sleeping (and waking up) on time.

Robinsons Malls, one of the largest retail establishments in the country, generating 120 million annual visits, is the brainchild of John Gokongwei, Jr. Now at 90 years old, he remains healthy and in shape thanks to regular exercise, a habit he’s built over time. Swimming, running on a treadmill, and even just daily walks keep him in tip-top shape.

We know that work takes top priority in our everyday routines, but neglecting your body’s health with the deadly combination of stress and binge-eating wcan eventually lead to decreased productivity, or worse, illness. Start your day by taking at least 15-20 minutes of your time to stretch, do some jumping jacks, and go on short brisk walks to get your blood pumping.

The youngest on the list, Taylor Swift has made the transition from country music sweetheart, to pop icon to global influencer in a span of a few albums (and controversial breakups). Her secret to writing some of this decade’s biggest pop songs? Jotting down notes. When a catchy hook or a good lyric comes to mind even at the wee hours of the morning, the trusty Notes app on her phone is ready to capture those fleeting moments of sudden genius.

Whenever you think of something that feels special or noteworthy, don’t even hesitate to put it off for later. The mind is a powerful tool, but sometimes thoughts get scrambled and all you’ll have left is the feeling that you forgot something important. Think about it, that million-dollar idea, gone…forever.

Asia Brewery, Eton Properties, Fortune Tobacco, and Philippine Airlines—these are just some of the Philippines’ most iconic brands, and all of them are under Lucio Tan’s name. With a net worth of $4.2 billion, Mr. Tan likes to enjoy his privacy and prefers to lay low from the spotlight–a trait unexpected from a man of his stature. To his friends and colleagues, his simplicity and modesty is even more surprising.

Despite all the incentive to lead a lavish lifestyle, Mr. Tan’s wealth is rivaled only by his restraint. He knows how much is too much as he dances on the line of being rich and responsible. That’s not to say that being frugal is a sure-fire way of being (or staying) rich. But being controlled by ego and not looking back to where you started could be a recipe for financial disaster.