When I look back at the last 45 years, I feel the greatest factor in any success I have had, as a university student, diplomat or businessman, has come mainly from being lucky.
When Napoleon was asked if he preferred courageous generals or brilliant generals, he replied neither. He preferred lucky generals.
So, how do you get lucky?
These are seven habits that brought me luck.
1) Be adventurous but do not bet the farm.
Every thing that I achieved came from taking risks. I left the comfort of my hometown university to study abroad. I confronted my boss on something that really mattered to me. I quit the company and started out on my own. I lent money to a supplier against very little security, and on and on. These were the moves that brought me the greatest rewards. But in all cases, I could afford to lose. I was not going to be exiled to Elba if I lost. I did not always develop a business plan, or do a detailed ROI analysis. I followed my gut feel, but I knew that I could cope with failure.
2) Start by trusting people.
You cannot do it alone. You will only achieve your goals with the help of others: friends and family, colleagues, employers and employees, suppliers and customers. If you are suspicious by nature, or if you like to do everything yourself, your chances of getting lucky are diminished. Because it’s usually others that bring you luck.
3) Play your strong cards.
Know your strengths and try to use them. Know your weakness and try to avoid having to use them. Don’t pretend to have strengths that you don’t have. You can develop strengths and overcome weaknesses. But make sure you identify your specific skills, aptitudes, knowledge, and contacts and use them wherever you can. This will increase you chances of getting lucky.
4) Give more than you take.
If you want to attract lucky people to your campaign, be prepared to give. You need to go the extra mile for others without worrying too much about keeping score. In my experience the old saying “what goes around comes around” is definitely true in business and in life, and “it” comes around when you least expect it, believe me.
5) Get and stay fit.
I am not referring to only to physical fitness. I mean your overall mental, physical and psychological well being. Eat right and stay active. Keep learning and improving yourself. Look on the bright side. Not everything is going to go your way. Believe in your chances of success, even in the face of difficulties. Never deal with tough problems at night when you are tired. Health and energy will bring you luck, and the strength to rebound from reverses.
6) Be a good communicator.
You have to communicate who you are and what you want. Work on your language skills. I mean your use of words, your ability to speak and write clearly and simply but forcefully. If you have the time, learn another language. Knowing many languages has greatly increased my luck and business opportunities. In our global village, the importance of languages will only increase. Japanese is now the biggest blogging language on the web!
7) Be true to your craft and trade.
An accountant can write a good business plan and do the ROI analysis, but is unlikely to make a good shoemaker. Every start-up, every enterprise, every venture, is based on a craft or specialized field of knowledge. Be true to the Hippocratic Oath of your chosen field of activity. People will know if you are for real and then you will start to get lucky.
Give luck a chance to happen! Practice these seven habits. You can start as a student or any time you want, but there are no guarantees.
Steve Kaufmann is a former Canadian diplomat, who has had his own company in the international trade of forest products for over 20 years. Steve founded The Linguist Institute Ltd. in 2002 to develop a new approach to language learning using the web. The new LingQ system for learning multiple languages is now available in Beta. Steve speaks nine languages fluently and is currently learning Russian using LingQ. Steve maintains a blog on language learning.
(4 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5)
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In brief, you’re confident, willing to go that little bit further, you play to your strengths, and you’re generous.
No wonder you’re a winner!
Okay, maybe there are no guarantees, but it’s clearly an easier route to luck than wishing lots and rubbing a ‘lucky’ penny. If you master these tips from an early age, I bet the rewards can be huge.
Really agree. Maybe this should be the new “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”. Haha. Sorry, that book just keeps coming up today, so yeah, just wanted to take a dig at it.
But on a more serious note, I think your post is great advice. And society should try to train individuals and youngsters to do this from young. Too many schools, for example, try to emphasize “all-roundedness” instead of focusing on the students’ strengths. Similar examples can probably be found for the other habits, but I think you get my point.
Hopefully posts like this can be the start of something bigger.
“everything is possible, if you can have fun doing it” that’s my get lucky motto. Think about this….people just naturally want to help you succeed if they enjoy your company!
Also, if you are in the constant habit of feeling and giving gratitude, the world wants to give you more.
Smile, it looks really good on you!
Eduardo
Always remember the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence……and chances are if you have rich neighbours its also weed free !!
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Great tips, especially communicating effectively.
Great article. Remainds me on my own life. I am sure that in order to really succedd, no matter if it means financial independence or simple happines, we need to work arround it and not just wait for it to happen, like most people do.
Excellent tips - worth printing out and putting on my desk.
I would add, stay cool when things heat up. Whether it’s a hallway conversation, a meeting, a small problem, or a crisis, those that avoid reacting emotionally, have better luck in the long run.
I love these tips - definitely worth printing. I especially like the tip about giving. Lately I’ve seen that the more you give to others, the more they give back to you. Not that being generous isn’t its own reward, because it is. But the world becomes a much more generous place when you’re generous yourself.
Thanks for the article, great tips. ‘Make your own luck’ as they say.
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Some people think luck is something we are born with. Those who take responsibility for their own lives and actions know that luck can be created.
Nice article, thanks!
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I really liked this
your obviously true to your word, and know who you are and what you are which is a good thing to have in life i always thought i could do it by myself but recently my changing my mind slowly. i really liked this Also, being good to others does bring good karma my life revolves around karma 
your an inspriration