What’s “luck” got to do with it?

Post Date

Tue, 08/06/2013 - 01:10

Categories

Lifestyle

I was brought up with the work ethic that success requires dedication and hard work. The concept of “luck” was for winning the lottery (although even there, you have to buy a ticket). With that in mind, I have worked hard and succeeded at just about every job and career I’ve chosen. When I haven’t succeeded, I’ve been able to look back and see where more effort would have produced a different outcome.

However, the last few years I’ve heard the phrase “good luck” more often than I think I’ve heard it my entire life. Is it the industry I’ve chosen? Is it a sign of the times? Never having considered myself a lucky person, the concept is disconcerting. Add to that, I’ve noticed an unprecedented number of people succeeding (or at least appearing to do so) by shear luck - born into a family that hands them what they need, having the right friends at the right time who help them…and it makes me wonder.

Do we need “luck” to succeed?

Comments

NULL

As Thomas Jefferson said "I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it."

So, keep working hard, drink bourbon with the Red heads and keep getting lucky :-)

- Guess Who

Shelley Simpson

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Maybe it's age, but I don't see anything lucky about being born to wealth or having anything handed over without effort. Perhaps that's because I don't define success as having made something from alot. Luck, something I am grateful to enjoy- is being in a position to define success for myself. For me success is measured in blessings both tangible and intangible. Sure money is important - I sure love earning and spending it! But so is knowing I am doing something to make the world - or at least the part I can impact - a better place. Im lucky enough to live in this amazing city doing something I love and making money at the same time. My world is filled with wonderful people and endless possibilities. I am not sure why I am lucky or how it came to be that a little pisher from Detroit from less than humble beginnings managed to get this far. But I bet that it has something to do with the fact that I learned the value of answering the the clue phone when it rang, seizing opportunity when it came knocking, working hard, keeping a positive mindset, and accepting responsibility for my choices. So the answer is, yes we need luck, but as with success, we each get to define it for ourselves. That being said, I wish everyone good luck and much success!

Liz Saldana

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Sorry Guess Who (aka Raj), I just saw your post. My blog was posted twice and there are comments on both.