We tend to give “luck” far too much credit for people’s good fortune. Likewise, we often blame our own personal misfortunes on bad luck. While it’s true that luck is often due to pure chance, more often than not it’s the result of something we actually can control: our mindset. That’s why it’s no coincidence that the “luckiest” people tend to be optimists who are, by nature, more willing to embrace opportunities as they arise, or turn lemons into lemonade.
The bottom line: It’s much smarter to make your own luck than keep your fingers crossed and wait for it.
Photo Credit: cygnus921
I’ve always believed in making your own luck. The secret is hard work and dedication and a strong commitment to what you do. With respect to opportunities, I think lucky people are very good at seeing opportunities where others don’t.
You are right on! An optimist will also recognize when something “lucky” happens and cherish those occasions. While a pessimist probably will just ignore little lucks and don’t see themselves as lucky…
There are many who cannot deny luck has played a big part in their lives.
Well… that’s the lucky gene pool. You can be a screw up, a criminal, and you will be protected if you’re a Kennedy, a Bush, a Clinton, a Mellon, Windsor, a Rockefeller. Aside from that, the harder I work, the luckier I get!
Yes, too much focus on luck – and it’s dark shadow, “not my fault”. I am a huge fan of personal responsibility. It’s amazing when you set goals, work towards them, and show up, how much “luck” you can experience.
It is really amazing how much just being dressed and ready to roll when opportunity knocks is called LUCK.
Some are ready because they planned for it and some are still up with yesterday’s hangover. Guess which group calls it GOOD luck?
Luck is when preparation meets opportunity.
A friend visited us at our country place in Warrenton, VA, after we had moved from Arlington, VA (I was a patent examiner, working in D.C), after the Cuban missile crisis. It was a lovely, sylvan homestead, cultivated for years before we acquired it, by a gentleman’s haberdasher in town – a kindred spirit – a self reliant man.
The friend was impressed with our situation and said “Somebody upstairs must be taking care of you”. I said, “Nope. Somebody downstairs, namely, me”.
P.S. this was the mid-point of our family’s odyssey from the factories of Detroit to the mountains of West Virginia.
Anyone here remember in The Tightwad Gazette, the description of two families, each of whom had $100 leftover at the end of the year? One family used it to invest in items to make money (like a sewing machine) and worked hard to save, as well as bring in more cash, while the other family blew their extra money on stuff, consistently. After a few years, the frugal family was bringing in and saving a lot more money that the spendthrift family. The spendthrift family said the other folks had “all the luck.” Luck, sure, that was it!
I loved The Tightwad Gazette! I have the three volume compendium and once or twice a year I read through it which is like visiting and old friend! Amy worked very hard on her column which became the Gazette, made a bundle and retired young to a farm in Maine, set for life because she and her husband were so darn cheap (thrifty!), and hard working!
Of course. Those who have the can-do attitude can make miracles and can set directions for their lives.
I not only believe optimistic people experience more lucky events, I also believe they enjoy better health. The second part of luck is in appreciating your good fortune, which is where gratitude comes in.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Luck like opportunity comes disguised as hard work, personal responsibility, and taking charge of your decisions.
My coworkers made the same wage I did, most of them didn’t give a cent to charity, and spent well beyond their means.(I know this because they told all of their business.) Several of them made snide remarks when I went to Scotland two years in a row, and paid cash for a vehicle. I told them if they changed their lifestyle they could do it too.
Saving and delayed gratification works, Bill. It’s sad that more people can’t grasp such simple concepts.
“The harder I work, the luckier I get.”
Exactly.