"Was it luck?"
That is a question I have heard often when discussing very successful people. Or, as many believe, has success come to those who worked and charted their personal and professional lives in a certain way.
Two articles I read during the weekend dealt with the subject and, as always, I enjoyed the exchanges, although neither article provides us with a definitive answer.
In a discussion of luck, Jeff Goins ,the author of four books, including the national bestseller The Art of Work ,believes that “success is born of luck (I don’t think any honest person can dispute that). But luck, in many ways, can be created — or at very least, improved.” He adds:
“It’s naive to say success doesn’t involve luck. At the same time, luck can be planned, anticipated. Although I can’t tell when or where luck is going to come from, I do know the more you put myself in the company of great minds, the more likely some of that greatness will rub off on you at some point.”
This is an interesting notion, the idea that luck can be “planned”. As in adding it to your to do list: “must work on my luck today”, for example. Yet, Goins is on to something here when he encourages us to work on our luck. I agree that I have been lucky myself, and, while I did not include “working on my luck” as part of any of my daily agenda, I did prepare certain details that led to luck, as I explained in one of my 40 Years/40 Lessons installment titled Luck.
My first book , The New Adviser: Learning the Craft, was, indeed, a result of the interception of luck and preparation.
I wrote that “luck needs the goods for it to flourish, and I love that sunny intersection called serendipity when luck and preparation meet.”
Goins and I agree that often we make our own luck, we work for it to make an appearance, we do the prime work and then rise to the occasion when it appears. Goins is quick to point out, however, that “The truth is life is not fair. For creative work to spread, you need more than talent. You have to get exposure to the right networks. And as unfair as that may seem, it’s the way the world has always worked.”
How the successful do it
The second article that I found of interest was titled “How successful people work less—and get more done,” and it profiles the habits of the successful during weekends. Here are 5 highlights :
1. Limit the number of hours you spend working: productivity per hour declines sharply when the workweek exceeds 50 hours, and productivity drops off so much after 55 hours that there’s no point in working any more. So, folks, take time off and smell the tulips, or go for a run, or build a Lego dragon with your children. Learn to disconnect: “it is the most important weekend strategy on the list, because if you can’t find a way to remove yourself electronically from your work Friday evening through Monday morning, then you’ve never really left work.”
2. Reflect: Successful people reflect. “Weekly reflection is a powerful tool for improvement. Use the weekend to contemplate the larger forces that are shaping your industry, your organization, and your job.”
3. Exercise: You will be surprised how many ideas erupt when you engage in physical exercise. In my case, the morning runs always provide a little time for reflection and creativity.
4. Wake up at the same time: “It’s tempting to sleep in on the weekend to catch up on your sleep. Though it feels good temporarily, having an inconsistent wake-up time disturbs your circadian rhythm. Your body cycles through an elaborate series of sleep phases in order for you to wake up rested and refreshed.”
5. Designate mornings as “me time”: this was written for me, as I always wake up sharply around 6:15 in the morning, no matter what time zone I am in. “Finding a way to engage in an activity you’re passionate about first thing in the morning can pay massive dividends in happiness and cleanliness of mind.”
What I liked about this piece is that it did not deal with the often unrealistic tips recommending a 100% disconnect from work during the weekend. That is an illusion. However, a partial disconnect, with periods where one reflects about work while involved in activities away from one’s desk, can be very valuable, as in planning top events of the week ahead, getting a little writing done, or engaging in a creative exercise while running, walking or even gardening.
Luck and success. They are intertwined and the very successful among us know that they are key ingredients when accompanied with hard work.
Perhaps Thomas Jefferson had it right when he said:
“I am a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work, the more I have of it.”
For more
The Unfair Truth About How Creative People Really Succeed
On Networks, Connections, and Relationships
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?shva=1#inbox/14f9d5adf773015c
How successful people work less—and get more done
http://qz.com/386166/how-successful-people-work-less-and-get-more-done/
