I’m a reasonably lucky man, and the intricacies of luck have always fascinated me.
So, I often step back and examine the outcomes of my business and personal ventures.
What made me successful? What caused me to fail?
Invariably, it comes down to three almost equal factors:
1- How determined and motivated was I?
2 – How deep was my domain expertise?
3 – And… how much luck did I have?
While the first two can be learned and mastered over time, we often think luck is uncontrollable.
Sheer luck – or lack thereof – has transformed lives, and spectacular examples come to mind.
Take Roy Sullivan, that park ranger who survived seven lightning strikes throughout his life. Or the story of Tsutomu Yamaguchi, who survived both the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II.
It’s an incredible mix of luck and bad luck.
But these extremes remain rare, and for most of us, knowing how to handle the subtleties of luck can help us better steer the wheel of fortune.
In 1978, Professor James Austin’s book Chase, Chance, and Creativity: The Lucky Art of Novelty popularized the notion that most kinds of luck can happen through openness to new experiences and active engagement with the world.
Random chance or blind luck exists, but we can position ourselves to be more receptive to that chance.
Motion
When proactively looking for opportunities, our energy and hustle attract luck. I can relate to that, having embraced change and said “yes” to countless challenges in my career. Like when I was in the middle of a significant restructuring at Avid, my proactivity and visibility landed me my first general management role.
While not all efforts pay off, taking action increases our chances of success. Engaging actively in life, investing time and effort in learning, and networking eventually help make a difference.
Awareness
Being attentive to events and recognizing opportunities is a key aspect of luck. I once overheard a conversation between two board members that later helped me perfectly aligned my story with what they sought and funded my business unit.
It convinced me we can enhance our ‘Luck from Awareness’ by working with others, trusting our abilities, and pursuing education. This means actively participating in conversations, seeking feedback, and continuously learning to broaden our awareness and increase our chances of recognizing opportunities.
Uniqueness
Uniqueness, in the form of distinctive qualities, experiences, or perspectives, can be a powerful magnet for unique opportunities. My cultural background and thick French accent opened doors to fascinating client sign-ups and business wins more than once.
This shows that it pays off to position ourselves in the world, know our talents, and be open to unique opportunities.
So, is there such a thing as learning to be lucky?
I believe so. If you follow Austin’s work, which emphasizes being proactive and recognizing opportunities, you’ll stand a stronger chance of success.
Good luck!