Luck isn’t always a matter of just being in the right place at the right time.
Did you know that you can force good luck to come your way? It’s true.
Louis Pasteur once said, “Luck favors the prepared mind,” which I think underscores the fact that you have to work very hard to get lucky. You have to think and concentrate on good luck by creating positive and optimistic thoughts.
Louis Nizer, a highly thought of trial attorney was asked if there was such a thing as luck when it came to trial law. His response: “Yes, but it only comes to me at 3:00 in the morning when I’m doing my research.”
When I speak to successful development professionals they tell me about the good fortune they have had. Luck seems to follow them around. But I believe that luck doesn’t just come by chance; it isn’t inadvertent. It’s planned for and sought after.
More than anything else, what assures luck is the ability to recognize new opportunities when they present themselves and then making sure you take advantage by being in the right place at the right time.
“Fortune favors the bold,” says an old Latin saying. Think back—doesn’t it seem that those who are lucky are always those who are bold?
Finally, Branch Rickey, the man who signed the first Negro baseball player to play in the major leagues, made the statement: “Luck is the residue of design. If you prepare and have a plan, things will fall into place. When they do and something good occurs, some people call that luck…I call it thinking ahead and being ready for what may come around the corner and then reaping the benefits.”
When Jackie Robinson was signed by Branch Rickey that wasn’t luck. It was planning, preparing and caring about Jackie the person. As fundraisers, we could substitute the word “Jackie,” for the words, John Q. Donor, wouldn’t you agree?
Please share with us an example of how your planning and preparation led to “good luck.”