Often success requires some good fortune along the way. Yet it’s definitely hard to talk about luck*.
First, it's a bit of a mystery, especially when compared to data-driven analysis and tangible results. Second, attributing success even partially to luck concedes that we do not have full control. Most leaders crave control.
It cannot be concocted in a lab, nor is luck passive, since just sitting idle hoping for success is futile. Admittedly, some people have fortunate backgrounds and that’s one form of luck called privilege.
But I’m talking about your future prosperity. Interested?
Luck often coincides with deep mastery and long persistence. As you generate meetings constantly and promote your ideas relentlessly, then unexpected opportunities will arise.
𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒎𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒃𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒅𝒐𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒂𝒓. It's rarely obvious, as luck simultaneously brings incredible risk AND amazing opportunity. So you question yourself.
Are you facing good or bad luck now? No one knows. Only one thing is clear - you should actively decide, since ignoring an opportunity is itself a choice.
Your ultimate success may require luck.
𝗜𝗳 𝗹𝘂𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝘂𝗴𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗱𝗱𝘀?
𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 – Testing more ideas increases the chance one of them will result favorably.
𝘚𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭 – Knowing your job and industry leads you to recognize luck when it's near and consider grabbing the opportunity.
“Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity.” – Oprah Winfrey
𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 – Joining new people and groups increases connections and likelihood to meet someone who can help.
𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 – Planning is useful, but your aims may evolve, so look beyond the turbulence to view new possibilities.
𝘈𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘴 – Noticing ways your team, clients, and the market solve tough problems leads to game changers.
𝘐𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 – Envisioning wonderful and horrific scenarios expands perception and may identify breakthrough ideas.
𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 – Offering others support and advice forces new awareness as you help solve problems.
Leadership is about taking advantage of every opportunity, even peripheral and unexpected ones. Recognizing and maximizing luck could enrich your success.
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* This was a really hard post to write in having to face the false belief that luck is the opposite of hard work and skill. Admitting the importance of luck initially felt like it undermined all my hard work, until I understood the frequent correlation.
“Getting a high Return on Luck requires throwing yourself at the luck event with ferocious intensity, disrupting your life, and not letting up.” This NYT article covers maximizing luck.
Photo by Marek Piwnicki who can be found here