The Secret to “Luck”

Another Super Bowl complete and another eighty bucks down the drain! Between buying a few squares on a scoring sheet, drawing player’s names from a hat, and a few side bets, money seems to flow out of my wallet never to return.  Every year this is a big winner among the bunch of us.  Though all the games we play are completely random, the prize money is never evenly distributed.  This year more than the last, my good friend Andrew swept the field: of the 14 games we played, he won 9 of them and left the party with a heavy wallet.

As much as situations like this leave our “jaws dropped” in awe of the “amazing luck” we just witnessed, most of us beg the question “what makes them so lucky?” Or, “why am I always the unlucky one?”  Well unfortunately, beyond Super Bowl Sunday, this mind-set is a continuous part of our everyday as the majority of us consider our selves “unlucky.”

Many of you have heard of “The Secret” or “The Power of Positive Thinking.”  Basically, if we believe that a positive outcome will prevail in our lives, it will.  Now, being the logical thinker that I am, for me to trust the validity of this philosophy will need some proof.  As far as I know, the only possible way to test this idea would be through personal application: it is seemingly impossible to measure another person’s thoughts as truly positive and not having a single doubt hidden somewhere deep in their subconscious.  However, the following statistics can give us some perspective:

• About 2% of the world’s population controls 98% of the world’s money.

• About 1 out of every 10 people achieves their new year’s resolution.

• About 9 out of every 10 start-up businesses fail.

The beautiful thing about statistics is that they offer general truths. Particularity, these stat’s align with the fact that most people consider themselves “unlucky.”  So perhaps some truth exists behind the powerful force that is our thoughts.  Now go ahead think your way to the top of the company and envision your boss bringing you your morning coffee!

“Luck” is defined as “a force that seems to operate for the good or ill in a person’s life, as in shaping circumstance, events or opportunities.”  Based on its definition, there should exist an equal amount of both “lucky” and “unlucky” people.  However, as the above statistics demonstrate, that is not the case.  If I were to fathom a guess as to whether a successful or unsuccessful person created the word “luck,” I would choose the latter.   A successful entrepreneur will likely contribute their success to work ethic or possibly even positive thinking, where a self-defined unsuccessful person will likely view their counterpart as being “lucky.”  Vice versa, a self-defined unsuccessful person will consider themselves “unlucky,” where a successful person will likely classify them as lacking resilience, lacking confidence or having a negative outlook.

“Luck” is not real.

Even in games of pure chance, it’s either you turn to win or it’s not.  The odds of winning always hold true.  Eventually, as long as you keep playing, it will be your turn to win.  Unfortunately, I can make no promises as to when.  So stop “banking” on it!  Hopefully by now, you will agree that my good friend Andrew simply “got his turn.”  Please take comfort in the fact that your turn will come.  But, always remember that in the game of life, where skill and more importantly action are drivers, considering yourself “unlucky” will ring true every time.

To put your mind at ease and diminish any thoughts that “luck” exists and is defining your life, please play along:

Grab a dice and pick your “lucky” number (1,2,3,4,5 or 6).  Now roll it 10 times and record the numbers of each roll.  Which number was the “lucky” one? Did you pick it? Now roll it another 10 times again recording each roll.  Which number is the “lucky” one now?  Continue doing this.  What I can promise is that eventually it will be your turn as the big winner, call it your “lucky” streak if you must.

Be happy for those whom hit their “lucky” streak around you.  Celebrate with them while celebrating all the amazing things you have in your life.  Know that your turn will come.  In the meantime, stay positive about the ventures in your life and take advantage of your skills.  Your thoughts drive your actions and your actions can get you the “luck” which you well deserve.

Yours in practice, Jason