What's the single most important thing you've done to become successful?

Question

unless you pay them =)

Answer 1

Thinking outside the box. I cater to several niche markets and was rather intimidated by going the traditional route because of how everything is mainstreamed in today's market. By focusing on something I wanted to do, adding in my own humor, and finding my own niche market, I built up some pretty good repeat business with customers.

Answer 2

You can't ask anyone to do something you aren't willing to do yourself.

That could be scraping crap out of a 4 inch sewer line..
Or ladling weird stuff out of a grease trap..