You don't have to focus on making your character likable; just make sure they're interesting and someone the readers can relate to on some level (which just means making them realistic, flaws and all). Likability will follow. Balance their strengths and weaknesses, good points and flaws, etc. Give them goals, dreams, and maybe an interesting quirk or two- but don't depend on those quirks. They need a life even if it's only briefly alluded to due to plot irrelevance, realistic reactions unless you want to show that there's something severely wrong with them (in which case other characters should note it to be unusual), and some initiative to actually get something done. Lazy and reluctant protagonists can still be pulled off, but know that you'll need more serious situations in order to force them to take action. If someone's a layabout then they aren't going to do something because it was asked of them or because they always dreamed of it. They'll do it because their life or freedom is in danger if they don't do it. They may do it in hopes of going back to doing nothing, without realizing that they won't be the same after. Which brings this to another point; they have to have changed by the end. This can be a positive growth, a moment of realization, or something else. This can be positive, negative, or a bit of both. For instance, a character may realize they had more inner strength than they thought they had (positive change), they may become corrupt beyond the point of return (negative), or they may gain maturity but be exposed to just how depraved people can be at times, therefore losing their naivete and possibly innocence (both). The last of those is the most common, but go for whatever sort you want as long as it's justified by the plot itself.
tl;dr: Don't focus on what traits people like. Focus on creating a well-rounded, realistic character who does something and makes some change over the story and you should be fine. Seriously though, you should read the whole thing. It may help more.
100
100
100
