LUCKY? TALENTED?

What the H-E-double-hockey-sticks? (Living in MN does this to you—hockey references all over the place!)

I really can’t stand when people say things like, “you’re so lucky” or “your child is so talented.” This totally negates all of the hard work that goes into “luck” or “talent.”

Recently I had the “luck” to travel to Iceland. No one looks at the fact that I planned this, made decisions, invested in the trip, etc. Somehow people really want to blame this on luck. Are you all afraid that you can’t do things? Who is stopping you? Why do you have to say someone is lucky, instead of giving them credit for the hard work they put in to be “lucky”?

I have often been told I am lucky. I think that folks use this as an excuse to tell themselves that “luck” has something to do with it and therefore take the accountability off of themselves.

As I left college and I chose my first job, it was not for the amazing salary package, the alignment with my career goals, etc. I choose it because they promised me I would go to Europe. I had never been further from Pennsylvania (a great state to grow up in) than Cincinnati.  Who even goes to Cincinnati????

But I had a goal of traveling the world. So when my future employer showed up on campus, I had done some research. I knew it was a representative company in the South, located 12 hours from my current home, and I couldn’t move. I knew they represented European companies and that they would need the candidate to work closely with this group. Perfect fit! It was just what I was looking for. So no problem, I would interview for this! Nope! I found out the career services office didn’t even give him my resume, as I wasn’t a “viable” candidate. I had just gotten married to my first husband ( that is a whole different post!) and I couldn’t move, but I wanted this job! Well I fixed that. I sat myself right in their way as they gave this guy a tour of our campus. I sat using the software he wanted to hire someone to sell at just the right moment he was coming through. I had an awesome project up that I was working on and able to show him. By the end of our impromptu meeting, he requested my resume and I ended up being the only candidate that he eventually flew to his location to interview for the job.

I did get the job by the way!

So was that luck? Some people who aren’t willing to work hard  and put themselves out there would say so. For me it was just part of a day. I knew what I wanted and I made sure that I would be there and available to make it happen.

So many folks out there right now in the most innovative sectors are “lucky” they are willing to put in the hard work, figure out how to engage their customers, and sell their services like hell.

How can you improve your luck?  What ways can you put yourself out there?

Tell us one thing that you are willing to risk this week, to be lucky!