第14部分(第6/7頁)

n　in　Who’s　Who　is　not　wealth　or　social　position；　but　current　achievement　in　a　given　field。　Our　research　pinpoints　a　number　of　traits　that　recur　regularly　among　top　achievers。　Here　are　five　of　the　most　important：

mon　sense　This　is　the　most　prevalent　quality　possessed　by　our　respondents。　Seventy…nine　percent　award　themselves　a　top　score　in　this　category。　And　61　percent　say　that　mon　sense　was　very　important　in　contributing　to　their　success。

To　most；　mon　sense　means　the　ability　to　render　sound；　practical　judgments　on　everyday　affairs。　To　do　this；　one　has　to　sweep　aside　extraneous　ideas　and　get　right　to　the　core　of　what　matters。　A　Texas　oil　and　gas　magnate　puts　it　this　way，“The　key　ability　for　success　is　simplifying。　In　conducting　meetings　and　dealing　with　industry　regulators；　reducing　a　plex　problem　to　the　simplest　terms　is　highly　important。”

Is　mon　sense　a　trait　a　person　is　born　with；　or　can　you　do　something　to　increase　it？　The　oil　man’s　answer　is　that　mon　sense　can　definitely　be　developed。　He　attributes　his　store　of　m　on　sense　to　learning　how　to　debate　in　school。　Another　way　to　increase　your　store　of　mon　sense　is　to　observe　it　in　others；　learning　from　their　and　your　own　mistakes。

Knowing　one’s　field　After　mon　sense；　specialized　knowledge　in　one’s　field　is　the　second　most　mon　trait　possessed　by　the　respondents；　with　three…fourths　giving　themselves　an　A　in　this　category。

Geologist　Philip　Oxley；　former　president　of　Tenneco　Oil　Exploration　and　Pro