Character Trait: Achiever

To engage your reader, it's important to always show not tell the traits of your characters. The Achiever is a character trait that describes individuals who are highly motivated, driven, and goal-oriented. These individuals have a strong desire to succeed and constantly strive to improve themselves and their circumstances. They are typically hardworking, disciplined, and focused, and are willing to put in the time and effort required to achieve their goals. Achievers are often ambitious, competitive, and enjoy taking on challenges that allow them to showcase their skills and abilities. They are also typically very organized and efficient, and are skilled at prioritizing and managing their time effectively to ensure that they make progress towards their goals.

Possible causes of being achiever

You might want to weave these into your character's back story to build a more believable character.

• Innate desire to accomplish goals and succeed in various areas of life.
• Natural competitiveness and desire to outperform others.
• Fear of failure or negative evaluation from others.
• High levels of self-motivation and discipline.
• Strong need for recognition, validation, and appreciation from others.
• Positive experiences of achievement and success in the past.

For detailed feedback on achiever characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's writing style analysis.

Behaviors associated with being achiever

You may be able to show your character's trait of achiever by using these.

• Taking on challenges and seeking new opportunities
• Striving for excellence and high performance
• Setting and pursuing ambitious goals
• Embracing hard work and persistence
• Focusing on productivity and efficiency
• Constantly seeking to improve oneself and one's skills
• Being results-oriented and driven to succeed
• Being proactive and taking initiative
• Celebrating accomplishments and milestones

Attitudes associated with being achiever

You may be able to show achiever through their attitudes.

• Perfectionist
• Self-motivated
• Tenacious
• Organized
• High-achieving
• Competitive
• Focused
• Productive
• Goal-oriented
• Disciplined
• Success-oriented
• Results-driven
• Driven
• Ambitious
• Persistent
• Efficient

Thoughts and struggles associated with being achiever

Here are some ideas for things your achiever character may think or struggle with.

• They may have a tendency to prioritize work over relationships or personal interests, which can lead to feelings of isolation or burnout.
• They may also struggle with feeling like they are never doing enough or never satisfied with their accomplishments.
• They may value recognition and praise from others, and may feel disappointed if their achievements are not acknowledged or celebrated.
• An Achiever character is driven by the need to be successful and achieve their goals. They are often very ambitious and hardworking, but may struggle with finding balance in their life.
• They may have a fear of failure or not living up to their own expectations, which can lead to anxiety or stress.

Emotions associated with being achiever

Here are some ideas for emotions your achiever character may experience.

• Determination
• Goal-oriented
• Success-driven
• Self-discipline
• Competitive
• Motivation
• Productivity
• Drive
• Tenacity
• Confidence
• Perfectionism
• Focus
• Results-oriented
• Ambition

Facial expressions associated with being achiever

Here are some facial expressions your achiever character may exhibit.

• Raised eyebrows and alert expression
• Subtle signs of excitement or enthusiasm, such as lip biting or clenched fists
• Purposeful nodding and direct eye contact
• Dilated pupils and intense stare
• Confident smile and upright posture
• Focused gaze and determined look

Body language associated with being achiever

Here is some body language your achiever character may exhibit.

• Walking with purpose and energy
• Having a firm handshake when greeting others
• Standing up straight, with shoulders back and head held high
• Maintaining eye contact while speaking to others
• Fidgeting or tapping feet or fingers due to eagerness or impatience
• Maintaining a brisk pace when walking or moving
• Using confident and assertive gestures, such as pointing or gesturing with open palms
• Sitting up straight and leaning forward when engaged in conversation
• Smiling or nodding frequently to convey enthusiasm

For detailed feedback on achiever characters and other aspects of your writing, try ProWritingAid's writing style analysis.

Behaviors associated with being achiever

Here are some behaviors your achiever character may exhibit.

• Embracing hard work and persistence
• Taking on challenges and seeking new opportunities
• Celebrating accomplishments and milestones
• Being proactive and taking initiative
• Striving for excellence and high performance
• Constantly seeking to improve oneself and one's skills
• Being results-oriented and driven to succeed
• Setting and pursuing ambitious goals
• Focusing on productivity and efficiency

Growth and evolution of achiever characters

Here are some ways that your achiever character may grow and evolve over time.

• An Achiever character may learn to balance their drive for success with their personal relationships and well-being.
• They may learn to overcome their fear of failure and embrace risk-taking as a necessary part of growth.
• They may come to realize that success is not always measured by external achievements, but also by personal growth and fulfillment.
• An Achiever character may learn to appreciate the journey towards success, rather than just the end result.

Stereotypes of achiever characters to avoid

Try to avoid writing stereotypical achiever character like these examples.

• Obsessive need for control in all aspects of life
• Unrealistic expectations and perfectionism leading to self-destructive behavior
• Emphasis on material possessions and status symbols as the only measures of success
• One-dimensional focus only on work and success with no other interests or hobbies
• Lack of appreciation or recognition for the efforts of others
• Constant need for validation and approval from others
• Ruthless ambition that harms others and lacks empathy

Negatives of being achiever

Here are some potential negatives of being achiever. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as positives depending on the context.

• May have difficulty relaxing and enjoying leisure time
• May struggle with failure or setbacks, leading to feelings of inadequacy
• May become too focused on accomplishments and disregard other important aspects of life
• Can be overly competitive and struggle with teamwork
• May struggle with perfectionism and high self-expectations
• May struggle with burnout or exhaustion from constantly striving for success

Positives of being achiever

Here are some potential positives of being achiever. Note: These are subjective and some might also be seen as negatives depending on the context.

• Focused on achieving success and recognition
• Ability to prioritize and manage time effectively
• Disciplined and organized
• Strong sense of personal responsibility and accountability
• Willingness to take on challenges and push oneself to succeed
• Ambitious and goal-oriented
• High motivation and drive to accomplish goals
• Self-motivated and proactive
• Strong work ethic and persistence

Verbal expressions of achiever characters

Here are some potential expressions used by achiever characters.

• "I will work hard to accomplish my goals"
• "I am motivated by challenges"
• "I am driven to achieve my dreams"
• "I am determined to succeed"
• "I am committed to my aspirations"
• "I can do it"
• "I am results-oriented"
• "I am focused on my objectives"
• "I strive for excellence"

Relationships of achiever characters

Here are some ways that being achiever could affect your character's relationships.

• Seeking out other high-achieving individuals to form alliances or partnerships with.
• Being more comfortable in relationships where there is a clear hierarchy or power dynamic, such as with a mentor or mentee.
• Using relationships as a means to achieve their goals or advance their career, rather than purely for personal connection or enjoyment.
• Struggling to connect with people who don't share their drive or ambition, or who have different priorities or values.
• Being competitive with others, even in non-competitive settings, and striving to be the best or most successful person in the room.
• Feeling frustrated or impatient with people who they perceive as not working hard enough or not taking opportunities seriously.
• Being drawn to people who can help them learn new skills or gain new knowledge, and potentially feeling intimidated by people who seem more experienced or knowledgeable than them.

Examples from books of characters who are achiever

• Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series by Stieg Larsson
• Holden Caulfield from The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
• Jo March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
• Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins
• Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
• Sherlock Holmes from the Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle
• Robert Langdon from The Da Vinci Code series by Dan Brown
• Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
• Scarlett O'Hara from Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

These characters all have the drive and determination to achieve their goals, and their stories demonstrate the strengths and challenges that come with this trait.

Writing exercises for writing achiever characters

Here are some writing exercises you might try for learning to write achiever characters.

• Give your character an obstacle that challenges their ambition. How do they respond?
• Write a scene where your character must navigate a competitive environment. How do they handle the pressure?
• Write a scene where your character is faced with a dilemma: do they prioritize their own success or help someone else succeed?
• Explore the consequences of your character's drive for success. Does it affect their relationships with others? Does it lead to burnout or other negative outcomes?
• Define what success means for your character: What are their goals? What motivates them? What are their values?
• Write a scene where your character sets a challenging goal for themselves and works hard to achieve it.
• Explore how your character deals with failure and setbacks. Write a scene where they don't achieve their goals and how they react to it.
• Write a scene where your character must balance their ambition with their ethical values.