Ever worked your tail off only to have someone call you “lucky”? It’s a pretty sucky feeling. It’s much more fun to take complete credit for everything you do, and paint yourself as an odds-beater. But where does luck really come into the picture, and what role does it have in our success?

In my estimation, luck is an opportunity, nothing more. You can use it or abuse it. Luck has little power over you that you don’t supply yourself.

What do I mean by “luck is an opportunity”? Like an opportunity, luck can change your life. Whether that change is good or bad, is up to you.

Luck is one factor among many.  I doubt even the luckiest person in the world can fall into lifelong happiness if they’re hellbent on being a shmuck. Your attitude, your talent, your willingness to share your good fortune, and your goals all have more of an effect on your day-to-day life than sheer luck. So while it can sting when you’re working hard and someone else “gets lucky,” there’s always more to the story.

The importance of luck often depends on how much effort you put in.  You’ve heard the stories of million-dollar lotto winners who wind up destitute. There are also an equal amount of stories where someone gets a lucky break after doing a ton of groundwork.  If you want to be a writer and you meet an agent at a cocktail party, you’re lucky. If you’ve got an outline of the book you’re working on and demographics on the intended audience, that luck might even get you somewhere.

You can’t force luck, but you can give it “come hither” eyes.  You can’t always be in the right place at the right time, but you get yourself within proximity.

Go to places where the people you want to meet hang out.

Sign up for conferences to make connections.

Help people now (out of genuine kindness, please) and they might be able to return the favor later.

Dress like you’re about to meet your new boss.

Have a written plan for your dreams, not just a vague idea.

Stay in touch with friends and acquaintances.  (It’s so easy now there’s really no excuse…)

Do what you have to in order to stay healthy. (In other words, eat and sleep.  Simple, right?)

Be interesting and have fun.  (I know it sounds trite, but dude, how much easier is it to approach someone when you’ve got something in common or worthwhile to share?)

Introduce other people to each other.

Luck itself isn’t good or bad; only what you make of it can determine that.

So, what do you do to “get lucky”? Share your ideas and thoughts in the comments.

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