Knowing your strengths and weaknesses may be the most important characteristic to seeking excellence.

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Second, the most important characteristic separating these constituencies, and their divergent views, is their family status.

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The most important characteristic of a sustainable investment strategy is that it explicitly aims to create value that is either social or environmental.

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But having strong beliefs, being able to stick with them through popular and unpopular times, is the most important characteristic of a great leader.

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The most important characteristic missing from public life is not emotion.

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Nearly three quarters of both groups cited trust as the most important characteristic of a financial adviser, but the big discrepancies were in performance and cost-per-service.

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"Clarity is the most important characteristic of good business writing, " says Mignon Fogarty, creator of the "Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing" podcast.

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