Click to learn more about author Mathias Golombek.

Success in tech isn’t simply defined by the revolutionary entrepreneur behind the business.

If you look at many of the best-known visionaries, such as Richard Branson, Elon Musk, and Steve Jobs, there are certain traits that they all have which are necessary for being successful. So this got me thinking, what are the characteristics necessary for success in the tech industry? In this blog, I’m going to explain the seven personality traits that I decided are necessary for success, starting with:

1. Analytical Capabilities

Technology is extremely complex. If you want to be successful, you should be able to cope with complexity. Complexity not only from technical questions, but also when it comes to applying technology in an efficient and productive way.

2. Educational Foundation

Part of the point above is your educational foundation. I am not talking so much about specific technical expertise learned at school or university, but more the general basis for understanding certain theories and relations. The ability to learn and process new information very quickly is also important. We all know that we have to learn new things continuously.

3. Passion

One of the most important things in the secret sauce for success is being passionate about what you do. Passion is the key driver of human activity, and if you love what you’re doing, you’ll be able to move mountains and conquer the world. If you are not passionate about what you are doing, you are doing the wrong thing.

4. Creativity

People often believe that if you are just analytical and smart, you’ll automatically find a good solution. But in the world of technology, there is no one single, optimal, rational solution in most cases. Creating technology is a type of art, where you have to look for creative solutions, rather than having a genius idea. History teaches us that the best inventions are born out of creativity.

5. Curiosity

The best technology leaders never stop being curious like children. Preserving an open mind, challenging everything and keeping your curiosity for new stuff will facilitate your personal success in a constantly changing world.

6. Persistence

If you are passionate, smart and creative and find yourself digging deeply into a technological problem, then you’ll definitively need persistence. Keep being persistent to analyze your problem appropriately, to find your solution, and eventually to convince others to use it.

7. Being a networker and team player

If you have all the other skills, you might already be successful. But, the most important booster of your success is your personal skillset. Being a good networker and team player, and having the right people in your network to turn to for support, will make the whole journey factors easier. There might be successful mavericks, but the most successful people in technology have a great set of soft skills.

As you’ll notice, these characteristics aren’t traits that you are necessarily born with. For those who find that these characteristics don’t come naturally to them, you’ll be pleased to hear that all can be learned and adopted through hard work and practice. Anyone can be successful in tech, and by keeping these traits in mind in future, you too can ensure a long and successful career in tech.