Well, I certainly learned a LOT from my beta readers, editor, and proofreader. I try to make their jobs easier with each book I write. It's a humbling experience to face the fact that not everything you dream up is golden. ;)
Understand that with good writing also comes marketing your work. It's not the fun part, but it's a necessary evil. Accept that you'll have to devote more time to the business part of the career than you'd like.
A really great author will have their own voice, but the book characters will also have individual ones. I love great story-telling too. Colorful, imaginative descriptions and humor that surprises the reader when it comes out suddenly.
