Ben Davis is a coach to the successful. In the course of his career he discovered what separates successful leaders from the rest.
The mindset of successful people:
In volatile markets like crypto, where fortunes can rise and fall overnight, success often has less to do with luck and more to do with mindset. According to Ben Davis, an award-winning international educator and personal development specialist, the most successful people share common mental traits that give them an edge — not only in business but in life.
Goal orientation is what makes high achievers
Through his work with high achievers, Davis has seen one trait stand out above the rest: goal orientation. “Successful people are laser-focused on their goals,” he explains. “They don’t waste energy on barriers or mechanics. The only thing that matters is reaching the destination. That mindset ensures all of their energy is spent on achieving the objective, not on distractions.”
Failure as tuition, not defeat
While most people allow failure to paralyze them, successful individuals treat it as a learning step. “They don’t linger on failures,” Davis says. “One entrepreneur told me that all the money he lost on bad decisions was just the cost of his tuition. For them, failure is education — not a stopping point.”
Emotional control and risk management
When it comes to long-term success, Davis emphasises the role of emotional control. “Most losses happen because of emotional decisions, not logical ones,” he says. In finance, this often shows up as fear: fear of losing savings, fear of missing out, fear of making the wrong move. “When you make decisions based on data and not on past emotional baggage, you set yourself up for success.”
He adds that successful people view risk differently. While many see it as danger, they see it as opportunity. “The difference is in focus,” Davis notes. “They manage risks but don’t let them paralsze decision-making. Many great fortunes were built on calculated risks others were too afraid to take.”
Applying the correct mindset to the markets
Davis sees strong parallels between this mindset and wise investing, especially in the unpredictable world of crypto. “Volatility in the markets is no different from volatility in life,” he explains. “There are no guarantees, and no one hands you success. Investors with a success mindset take full responsibility for creating outcomes. They rely on integrity and consistency, not emotions, to guide decisions.”
Discipline, he adds, is the golden key. “Every highly successful person I’ve worked with had discipline: daily schedules, productive activities, constant learning. Discipline keeps emotions in check and prevents destructive impulsive trades.”
Real-world proof
Davis recounts the story of a real estate entrepreneur who exemplified this mindset. In 2020, amid the uncertainty of the global pandemic, the investor faced rejection from a bank for a major deal. Instead of giving in to fear, he persisted — securing funding through family and friends and ultimately closing the deal. “Overnight, he became a wealthy man and today runs multiple companies,” Davis says. “He didn’t let fear or rejection dictate his future. He stayed calm, stayed focused, and found solutions.”
Practical tools for investors
For everyday investors, Davis recommends starting with clarity: “Set clear goals. If you know exactly what you want to achieve, short-term volatility won’t knock you off balance.”
When under financial pressure, he advises pausing before reacting. “Don’t make rush decisions. Step away, take a walk, clear your head. Come back with a grounded mind and more data — the right decision will become obvious.”
He warns against letting stress dictate choices. “Impulse decisions might work in the jungle, but in business they’re dangerous. Successful investors don’t buy or sell because of fear of missing out. They make calculated moves.”
His final advice: awareness. “Notice when emotions are creeping in. Distract yourself, reset, and then re-engage with more data. That’s how you protect your investments and your future.”
