# Signs of Greatness

By [OpenSourced.finance](https://paragraph.com/@opensourced-finance) · 2022-06-06

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What makes a founder truly great? I am no expert, just a founder spending a lot of times with other founders.

Here is, what I have come to believe are the attributes of the very best - say top 5% - founders and builders (product managers, engineers, designers, etc.) I've had the privilege to observe in action.

**7 attributes stand out to me:**

1.  **Self-actualizing:** Be willing to fail more, try new things, take more risks, take on new skills and be willing to suck for a prolonged of time. Self-awareness put in motion.
    
2.  **Resilient:** Come out of dark holes sooner and faster. Be able to let go of what’s hindering mentally and focus on bouncing back.
    
3.  **Consistent.** Hone their craft every day. Grind, day in day out. Relentless.
    
4.  **Competitive. I**nner fire to win, 24/7.
    
5.  **Thinks independently**. Question everything, even the obvious stuff. Not subject to seeking social validation.
    
6.  **Truth-seeking.** Pokes at own ideas.
    
7.  **Curious and fast-learning.** Plenty of hacks to extract good intel quickly. Good sense for the right questions to ask.
    
8.  **Generous. W**illing to teach and to show a vulnerable side. Take ownership for the team, especially in hard times.

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*Originally published on [OpenSourced.finance](https://paragraph.com/@opensourced-finance/signs-of-greatness)*