Over the weekend I looked at my flip calendar on the kitchen table and it said, “ You Can Always Tell Luck From Ability By Its Duration.” This really struck me in a number of ways.
I’ll share below.
1. Why do we always expect something for nothing? I had a BNI member recently who was frustrated that he was not lucky enough to receive referrals like all the other members. I looked at the member’s activities. The referrals had nothing to do with luck. They had everything to do with activity, commitment, and engagement.
2. I recently completed a very tough half marathon. I had my best time ever. I completed it in 1:44. Not bad for a 42-year-old guy. I actually had someone tell me that I was lucky. Really? Could it be all the training that I have done over the last several years which led to ability?
3. When my bestseller, Networking Like A Pro, came out, I had a college friend call me. He excitedly said, “WOW, you are an overnight success.” I paused and said, “I have been doing this for 15 years!” Success is usually not an overnight endeavor; it is a lifelong journey. This is not luck.
4. This weekend I am doing a Tough Mudder with 23 friends and after that, I am going fishing with my father and youngest son. Another friend mentioned that I was lucky that I could do things like that. What do you think? Is it luck or is it possibly successful entrepreneurship that allows me to control my own schedule?
5. In the next 4 months, I will be in multiple states and countries teaching people how to Network Like A Pro! Several people have mentioned to me that I am so lucky? I agree, yes, I am. Certainly, I will take as much luck as I can get, but it’s not luck but connections that are making this happen. It is the power of my network. Oh, by the way, it took time and a lot of giving to build that network.
I’m not in any way trying to be snarky. It just occurs to me that breakthroughs create breakthroughs. Luck creates luck. All of this is driven by ability which is driven by training, challenges, commitment, and self-development. I have recently had several breakthroughs in my life and I am creating more.
Do you want more luck? Remember, breakthroughs require action.
I just got home from a run with a friend. He shared with me that he has reached an astonishing new level of fitness because he hired my personal trainer. He just completed a Spartan Race and came in 3rd! WOW! Was that luck? I don’t think so. He is a serial entrepreneur with an astonishing track record of success. He also just signed up for our coaching program. He understands the power of accountability and wants to have more luck!
If you want more luck, I encourage you to deeply consider the following quote:
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.” Aristotle
Network Powerfully,
David