Jodie Cook

Most people spend their life making concessions. They play small to avoid rocking the boat. They stay within the limits others set. But ultra successful people operate differently. They create their own rules and live by them without apology. And you can join them.

Your path to success means demanding more. Breaking free from patterns that hold you back. Surrounding yourself with excellence. Here's how ultra successful people protect their standards and time, with ideas for your next moves.

Smart standards for huge success

They don't negotiate

Beyoncé Knowles states her terms. Larry Ellison sets his price. Ultra successful people take "negotiate" out of their vocabulary. They understand their value and expect others to meet it. Nothing less. They don't chase opportunities or beg for business. They build empires that attract the right people.

Build your worth so high that others want to work with you. Create offerings people can't refuse. Make yourself the obvious choice through excellence and reputation. Start turning down work that doesn't meet your standards. Fix your prices and stick to them.

Copy this mindset today. Share your intentions with confidence. Say no to low-value projects. Build your brand until you become the prize. Watch what happens when you stop haggling and start owning your worth.

They don't waste time

Time equals money, results and progress. Ultra successful people guard their schedule like gold. They don't queue for coffee, wait around for late friends, or waste hours in traffic. Their time matters more than that. They make moves that protect every minute of their day.

Buy back your hours with premium upgrades. Pay for fast delivery, first-class travel, and efficient service. Get help running errands. Book time slots that work for you, and don’t return to tardy suppliers. Plan ahead to eliminate waiting. When you compare the cost of the time saved to your hourly rate, this always makes sense. Think what you could achieve with those saved hours.

Start today by listing your regular time drains. Calculate the cost of waiting versus paying for speed. Upgrade your daily habits to save precious minutes. Book the best times, pay for priority, skip the lines. Your future self will thank you.

They don't lower their standards

Ultra successful people demand excellence in every area. Average hotels, basic food, or mediocre service won't cut it. They invest in premium experiences that fuel their success. Their standards apply to their surroundings, their circle, and their self-care without exception.

Level up your daily experience. Choose quality over quantity. Hire experts to handle tasks. Book better accommodation. Upgrade your wardrobe. Find friends who push you higher. Cut ties with energy vampires who drag you down. Make excellence your new normal and become the new you.

Review your current standards and find places to upgrade. List five areas ready for improvement. Maybe it's your morning coffee, your gym, or your work setup. Make one change this week. Keep going until premium becomes your baseline.

Your standards set your success: make three upgrades today

Ultra successful people protect their worth, value their time, and demand excellence. They know success comes from raising standards, not lowering them. You have everything you need to reach this level. Start treating yourself like the success you want to become.

Forbes