Do YOU possess the top success traits? Poll reveals the secrets to success – and it’s NOT what you’d think

Home ownership, financial security and independence are more important to people in Britain than physical assets, an in-depth survey of the nation has found.

According to Ipsos research, being able to leave a legacy and build a good pension are seen as one of the qualities that most reflect success.

The feeling of being in control of what happens in your life is also important, while the poll also found that the country believes in 'quiet luxury' and discreet consumption.

It is said that Britain is a nation of 'satisficers' rather than 'striders': 51 per cent are satisfied with what they have, compared to 30 per cent who want to achieve more.

And the researchers said Brits no longer view physical possessions such as a top phone or TV as a sign of their success – despite this being the case before.

Ipsos said its Signs of Success report, released today, also revealed “deep generational and geographical divisions in our perception of success”.

However, it said there was a 'shared belief that home ownership, financial security and independence are more important than physical property'.

Only 10 percent of people said they like to own things or do things that show their wealth, while 69 percent disagreed – and a third strongly disagreed.

Even among high earners and the Generation Z group aged 27 and under, less than a fifth admit they want to show off their wealth.

The three characteristics that most reflect success are owning your own home (63 percent), being able to leave a legacy (59 percent) and building a good pension (58 percent).

Independence is also seen as an important measure of success.

Eight in 10 who think they are very successful say they feel in control of what happens in their lives. But only 17 percent of those who rate their success as low think the same.

In the survey, Ipsos asked Brits to rate their own success in life so far, using a question based on the ten-point scale used by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) to measure wellbeing.

About 13 percent of respondents rated their own success as nine to ten out of ten, while 43 percent gave it a seven or eight. But almost a fifth estimate their success between four and zero.

Only 8 percent of people living in rented accommodation and of people from ethnic minority backgrounds rated themselves a nine or ten for success.

About 51 percent of respondents agreed with the statement: “I'm happy with what I have, even though I know some things could be better.”

And 30 percent argued, “I want to get the best out of life, instead of settling for what I already have, even if that means more hard work.”

Those defined as “satisficers” have higher levels of life satisfaction and are more likely to say they have been successful.

Older people in particular appear to have this mentality; three quarters of people over 75 belong to this group.

But the report points out that it is not always people with high incomes or successful careers who are happiest with what they have.

Those with no formal qualifications (72 per cent), people living in rural areas (60 per cent) and those with a household income of less than £26,000 a year (59 per cent) are among those likely to be happiest.

The group of 'strivers' seems younger and more diverse.

The three most strongly associated groups are students (60 percent), 16-24 years (60 percent) and Generation Z (56 percent).

And those with a household income of more than £100,000 are more likely than average to be in the group.

About 77 percent view hard work as essential or very important for success in life, while two-thirds view an individual's skills or talents, education and ambition as essential or very important.

Only 46 percent say it's about “knowing the right people,” while about a quarter say they feel the same about their parents' education level or family wealth.

Only one in five thinks it is a matter of luck.

Respondents also said the most important factor for success overall was treating other people well – which more than eight in 10 saw as essential or very important.

There is also a geographic North-South divide in terms of how easy it is to achieve success in Britain today.

People in South East England are the most likely to believe that it is easy for someone close to them to be successful, at 31 percent. This is almost double the UK average of 18 percent.

By comparison, just 7 percent of people in the North East believe the same, followed by Wales at 10 percent and the West Midlands at 12 percent.

There is also a gap in the number of people who think they are successful in each region.

In the South West, just 11 percent of people say their personal success is low – with London close behind at 13 percent.

However, 36 percent of people in the North East rate their success as low, which is much higher than other regions.

The next closest are the East Midlands at 22 percent, Scotland at 19 percent and the East of England at 19 percent.

Meanwhile, half the population believes that being competitive is important for success – although a quarter admit to being jealous of the achievements of others.

Jealousy is most common among the younger generation, with 43 percent of Gen Z agreeing that they “often feel jealous of people who I think are more successful than me.”

Another 17 percent say they think many people are jealous of their own successes in life.

However, the researchers say that jealousy decreases with age – with only 7 percent of baby boomers, who are between 58 and 78 years old, agreeing with both questions.

Mike Clemence, engagement manager at Ipsos Trends and Foresight, said: 'Our data paints a picture of a country that is generally comfortable and not driven to pursue ever greater success, which appears to have benefits for our national happiness.

'But perceptions are not equal and lower feelings of success and control are fairly predictably distributed along generational and regional lines in Britain.

'When it comes to the signs of success in Britain today, it is not the material possessions we accumulate, or even the experiences we are able to have, that for most indicate achievement.

“Instead, it's financial stability and home ownership; these factors contribute to a feeling of greater control over life, which our research shows is essential for a better perception of success.'

The research was based on 2,178 interviews with residents aged 16 or over in the UK, conducted between June 1 and 7 this year.