What makes a successful language learner?

I have discovered a really interesting Forum on a website called How-to-learn-any-language.com. I recently commented there on what makes a successful language learner.
Who is good at languages? (not a full list)

Main factors:
People who are motivated to learn languages.
People who put a lot of effort into learning languages (like me).

Secondary factors:
People who can already speak more than one language.
Outgoing people who are not afraid to make mistakes.
People who are good at simplifying tasks.
People who heard a number of languages when they were young, including Swedes and Dutch people who watch TV in the original language.
People who are not closeted in their own culture and can visualize themselves as part of another culture and therefore willingly imitate the behaviour of another culture.
People who do not resist the new language, and just accept it without asking why it works in certain ways.

Comments

[Ilya]

Steve,

I am in accord but curious. Why have you included the factor of being good at simplifying tasks? Yes, it is a an important factor. Especially when fighting against complexity, for example when designing a software. Language learning, however, seems voluminous or time consuming rather then complex to me. (Or do you consider the ignoring of grammar as a simplifying task?)

[DailyLinguist]

Well written!

[Tony]

People who have variety of interests? So they have the motivation to read books on different subjects in target language.

[Isabelle]

What about people who just love to talk to other people and find out about them and their life-first hand?

From another perspective, knowing a language also considerablyincreases your chances of meeting a partner, so I have heard. Quite logical: speak English, French, Spanish, Chinese... what a pool of prospective partners to choose from!!

[Samantha]

I'm glad I have the main factors. Some of the secondary factors I will have to go on wishing I had. ;)