Make Your Own Luck

Do you find yourself constantly looking for that elusive pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? When I was young, it felt as if I was constantly yearning for my lucky break—when I was it going to be my turn. That quickly faded, and I realized that sitting around waiting would get me nowhere.

Growing up, I was faced with many “forks in the road” if you will, where whichever decision prevailed, would affect the rest of my life. Some of these were just minor detours, where others, significantly changed the direction of my future. Knowing what you value most in life can aid in creating a path that only leads to success.

A story that you may have heard me mention before, emphasizes my belief that you create your own luck. By knowing what you want, helps you focus on how to get it. At one of my first jobs, it was considered an honor to be invited out to coffee with a group of what seemed like the “cool-kids.” One day, I was invited, and I saw one of my co-workers—and #1 sales guy in the company—sitting at his desk. I asked why he wasn’t joining us, and he simply responded “Why would I waste my prime hours sitting around being unproductive?” Bam! It was the epitome of a “no-duh” statement that resonated with me the rest of my career. What on earth would I gain by sitting around a coffee shop discussing with cohorts our dissatisfaction and longing for a better pay day?

I truly believe people make their own luck. You constantly hear people whining about how lucky someone is, when in reality, if they spent as much time towards their goals as they do whining about not attaining them, they would be “lucky” as well. People tell me all the time how lucky I was to experience the success in business that I have; but really, I just knew what I wanted and worked hard to get it. The lucky ones, are usually the hard working ones.

Sometimes it seems like some people get all the breaks. There are those who get where they are by standing on the shoulders of giants; but if taking advantage of people is what you value, the type of people you surround yourself with, probably wouldn’t hesitate to do the same to you. Luck seems fleeting when you don’t learn the lessons, and gain the knowledge from working hard for it. The path to success is never a strait road; but you’ll never get anywhere by sitting on the side trying to hitchhike a ride.

Every time someone tells me how lucky I am, I say “Why yes, yes I am. I am lucky to have a good head on my shoulders and the love and support of the people around me.”