"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." Agree? Disagree?
All of us have our own perceptions of success drivers in our lives.
While requesting you to delight me with your answers, I will greatly appreciate a real life example to support your answer choice.
Clarification added 7 months ago:
I am reopening this question, posted about a year ago. Lot of things have changed in the world during the year in between .. do you still stick to your answer?
Answers (44)
Alpana L
A-Level Placements&Mgmt.Solutions, alpana@alevelplacements.com or visit me at http://alevelplacements.blogspot.com
I believe in luck: how else can you explain the success of those you dislike?
It is not about luck Mr Bhan...it is about the belief that all things are possible and desire. If I want something badly enough for whatever reason, I and only I, have the ability to make it happen in my life whether that is business or personal.I open myself to opportunity and if I desire..I take the necessary action to make it happen....is this easy?..without challenges or roadblocks?..absolutely not...do I sometimes get discouraged?...absolutely yes but it goes back to belief and desire and then the challenges become opportunities...this is not just idle talk as you well know...
You requested an example and I shall keep this to business for I am quite sure my personal life would bore most to tears...Over two years ago, India came on the business plan radar for my company...for me this is the best example of believing and desire...the frustration, the differences in culture, market differences, business ethics differences, time differences in doing business, the expectations and managing same, seeming insurmountable...but we believed we were doing the right things for the right reasons and now that and desire ihave translated into concrete business. For many this may not seem like a success..but for JeMM it absolutely is..it would have been so easy to walk away and chalk it all up to experience.
We believed and took every challenge as a learning, we worked around the differences, we did what we needed to do..not with luck...but with a plan, a strategy, a willingness and a desire...all this translates into hard work but has nothing to do with luck....
In my humble opinion..regards..Jo
At ofice I agree with you. But, at home, the harder you work , you seem to be burdened with more work. Well, I do not know what you call that, luck or !
Clarification added April 26, 2008:
At ofice I agree with you. But, at home, the harder you work , you seem to be burdened with more work. Well, I do not know what you call that, luck or luck --------------you!
Luck is when preparedness meets opportunity. If you are working hard and smart then more then likely your objective is defined and you are doing what needs to be done to achieve it. In turn, this increases your odds of being able to sieze opportunity when it presents itself.
Rohit K
Ph.D. Student at Carnegie Mellon University
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Yes.
But do i need more ?!
Maybe
Why not.
Dear Ravinder, I agree.
It is all about being focussed on the objectives and truly believing or having faith that there are no short cuts. Allow me to give a different flavour to my response which i guess Indian Nationals would easily relate to as i would be refering to some aspects of Indian mythology.
There exists three forms of YOGA or Meditation. First form is the one that we all understand (comparising of lifestyle discipline, meditation & exercises), second form is Bhakti Yoga or absolute devotion. Example - Hanuman who 'probably' was equal or may be more powerful & capable than Ram completely devoted himself to a selfless service without ever questioning or desiring 'anything'. This is what we term in sanskrit as 'Purna Samarpan'. The third form, which is more relevant to professionals like us, is Karma Yoga wherein you operate with all sincerity, submission and maintain focus on the end objective / role. Probably this is what you refer to as 'Working Hard'. And only if this is the real definition of your 'working hard' then you are bound to get lucky results because not only your actions, but your attitude, body language, and thought process will seem purely focussed. There are many who work hard but do not get lucky. Probably they are not performing the correct Karma Yoga.
Hope i did'nt deviate from the subject.
Arun S
Author || Coach:Corp-Leadership/Strategies/Life/Business || Architect:Smart Businesses || Lead Auditor:ISO 27001
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No its not luck but your hard work that is paying dividends.
Hard work that follows a well thought up of plan ensures results on predictable lines.
Its always 99 percent perspiration and 01 percent inspiration that makes thing happens.
Luck is what you pluck in the bargain.
Cheers!
And do continue working hard and smart, using all the tools and resources available to you as you grow up.
Without worrying or fear of one certainty that is certain and we are all invariably afraid of.
Death.
As there is no incidence recorded so far of any individual dying of hard work!
Work smarter rather than harder...nevertheless!
Arun
Arun
The harder i work the more work i get :))
I do not agree that you get luckier by hardwork...
Hi Ravinder, I agree,
The harder we work we are able to be focused being focuse means that we are able to think without interrupting our mind's flow and to watch the whole world and circumstances as a unit
Hi! Ravinder,
My viewpoint and experience..I am in agreement with your statement, as I believe that determination to succeed and power of a +ve mind can move mountains.
I have seen it in my life time with me and several others on various occasions, when trying times come whilst several doors close but a small window always opened that is the window of a +ve mind (it may sometime take its time to see) and we term it a miracle or luck but it’s actually your +ve mind and determination to succeed.
I will support it with a real life example my bro- in - law a very successful businessman in India had a car accident and damaged his leg badly, so was invalid and in bed for over a year couldn’t attend to his business and high medical bills due to which he lost most of his wealth and was straddled with a lot of court and bank cases, he didn’t loose heart he attended to all his problems both business, health & family as best as he could and all this with determination, support from loved ones and on his crutches. He sold his business in India and settled his dues,moved to the US took up a car salesman job at a car dealership( in this case the open window) coz that is what he got at best although he is a qualified computer engineer, he was at it relentlessly supporting his family at best that he could and eventually after 7 years bought the car dealership he worked in, today he has 4 gas stations and the dealership in the US.
P.S: I am sure this sounds like a Hindi movie where the hero just got lucky and miracles happen?
To me it was reinforcement of my belief of how to get lucky.
Thank you.
Does working 'harder' mean working longer hours? If the answer is 'Yes' then luck does not figure in the equation.
Does working 'hard' mean working better? Again 'luck' does not figure in the equation.
We all make our own luck, Ravinder - through the choices we make. Luck and work are orthogonal. :)
Mary L
ReloMary --> Assembling your selling, buying, moving team
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Prior to leaving on vacation...it's necessary to work hard and smart to have it all come together so you can go away and relax.
Why is it that with all the "harder" work, more business comes? I believe the postive energy of "harder" and "smarter" work breeds business because people want to connect with those who have it going on!
R. Scott F
Partner at Key Search Marketing
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Beginners Luck
A retiree was given a set of golf clubs by his co-workers. Thinking he'd try the game, he asked the local pro for lessons, explaining that he knew nothing whatever of the game. The pro showed him the stance and swing, then said, "Just hit the ball toward the flag on the first green."
The novice teed up and smacked the ball straight down the fairway and onto the green, where it stopped inches from the hole. "Now what?" the fellow asked the speechless pro.
"Uh. . .you're supposed to hit the ball into the cup." the pro finally said, after he was able to speak again.
"Oh great! Now you tell me," said the beginner in a disgusted tone
Mike B
Managing Director
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Ravinder -
Hmm...
I would agree to an extent, but I would qualify my answer.
The harder I work (at the right things) the more luck I seem to have.
Simply working harder does not make you luckier. But opportunity arises because we create the events, circumstances, perceptions and beliefs in others that make the opportunity happen. By working hard at these causes, the more opportunity will come your way - you will get lucky.
For example, I am an expert in helping companies implement practical change. I need people to recognise and buy my expertise. So I blog, I update my website, I secure and deliver speaking engagements, I write a newsletter, I network in person and online, and I do things like answer a selection of questions on LinkedIn. I do not know at the time I do these things whether any one activity I undertake will lead to a specific opportunity - it is just that many of the opportunities I do get (the ones that come from being 'in the right place at the right time') happen because of this work.
So the harder I work at these things, the more luck I do, indeed, seem to have.
James M. K
Registered Professional Architect at James Koenig Architecture LLC
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Ravinder,
That's the Republican way and the key to not falling for the "man keeping me down" myth.
Jamie
Octavio B
Partner and COO at Talaentia ★ Corporate Strategist
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Hi Ravinder,
I have learned during my professional career that luck happens when you have been fortunate of having been in the right place, at the opportune time, having done exactly what you should have done to succeed in a singular, extraordinary and opportunistic way.
Working hard, being accountable and responsible in your job, being faithful to your own ethical principles and looking for achieving operational excellence while considering strategic alignment should be more than enough to achieve consistently superior outcomes, personal fulfilment and success warranted for the long term.
When there is a perfect fit between corporate mission, vision, values, policies and beliefs that define a corporate culture and your personality traits, your expectations as professional, your skill-sets and your willingness to learn and climb through the corporate ladder you do not need to be too fortunate to reach success and progressive professional development.
Growing professionally in challenging workplaces environments where an inspiring leadership, an open culture where experimentation, learning and growth are encouraged, and an organization that is appreciative in recognizing employee’s outstanding achievements are conditions ideal in nurturing the leadership’s traits that those courageous professionals having differentiating personality traits may improve effectively in their intention of being successful professionals.
For the opposite, conservative cultures that deny innovation and self-initiative, micromanagement styles that kill any positive trait of personal courage and strict policies that reject an opportune development of an innovative mindset may inhibit the expression of those positives attributes that characterizes to a potentially successful professional and that in the long term might undermine individual self-esteem, generating profound demoralization and a worrisome disengagement.
I include the links to 3 relevant questions that I have posted in Linkedin. These are the questions:
1. What are the boundaries of your ethical values in business?
2. How do you recover your motivation after a failure?
3. How far are your dreams and illusions from your reality?
I hope this helps you.
Octavio
Links:
Kate (
Senior Manager, Organizational Development & Training at Choice Logistics
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It's not luck. Opportunity doesn't knock until you invite it over.
(A lazy Sunday style response ... )
My mother told me "nothing replaces hard work"
I worked hard...succeeded a few times.. and lost a few times
I looked around and saw there were a lot more people ahead of me
I read and found the Persistence paid off for them
I persisted in achieving my goals… I won a few times.. lost a lot of times
There were a LOT of people ahead of me….
I tried to find the reason… and found that they went after getting Specialized Knowledge
I stayed with the task and went on getting high education from some of the top Universities of the world.
I got better .. but STILL.. A LOT of people ahead of me…
I watched the TV program on a mother’s faith in god to save her child’s life
I saw people talk about their dreams as though they have been materialized
I read Napolean Hill and many more
I learned, Belief in the outcome, before it is manifested is an important ingredient.
But now… how do I learn the BELIEF?
I turned to meditation.. I turned to discussion… trial and error…
And found that when we have
FAITH,
SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE,
PERSISTANCE WITH
100% BELIEFE AND
KNOW WHERE WE ARE GOING,
OUR GOALS ARE CRYSTAL CLEAR…
Then there is nothing called Hard-work because we enjoy the journey. And this is when we are the luckiest.
Tested and proven myself in 39 years. Try it .. you would find the same.
Poonam
April 27, 2008
Poonam G also suggests this expert on this topic:
Dear Ravinder,
You might want to read "The Black Swans" by N.N.Taleb. - there are some very good suggestions in there regarding the importance of luck.
We are successful when effort meets opportunity. We can spend a lot fo effort identying opportunities. However, there are always purely random events which, if we are prepared, will present phenomenal opportunities to us.
So, yes, hard work provides the effort but unless an opportunity arises we can put in a lot fo effort to no avail.
Hope that helps
Regards
Neil
Frank L
Independent advisor to CEO's, MD's. BOD's and SME's. Serial entrepreneur and Investor in Ideas
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You are lucky if you win the lottery, and you don't need to work harder (or not at all) after winning the lottery.
Coincidence does not exist on long term. If you play on the lottery for a few million years (yes, I am a dreamer and no, I am not playing on the lottery), you will eventually win a few times.
Perception of success drivers is irrational. It's like a USP. You create a rational reason for an emotional buying decision.
Therefore I agree partly. And I would like to put it in a different way. The harder you work, the less unluck you seem to have (if you consider hard working as a success driver). You need to add one condition: Never give up. If there is no opportunity to grab, don't give up, continue to work hard until the opportunity takes place.
By the way, if you want your people to work harder, and you make them work harder, the more luck you need to have to be successful. Hard working is not a success driver in some people's lifes. The harder I work, the more problems I seem to have with my family. All drivers have an outcome. Identity and perception are the drivers. Luck is not the outcome.
I would be delighted to support my answer with a real life example, but not via this medium.
Now I have to continue to work, otherwise I might run out of luck. Or I have to stop workng, as I might run into problems with my family.
All the best Ravinder
Michael G
Life Coach, Trainer, Visionary, Dreamer
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I don't believe in luck. I believe we create our results so your actions and energy are behind what you would call luck.
Costin-Sorin I
QA Senior Coordinator at Aluminum Foundry
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I think it really boils down at how you define luck.
Is it
1.a force that brings good fortune or adversity
2.the events or circumstances that operate for or against an individual
3.favoring chance
From whatever pov I look at luck it seems it is something that operates ouside one sphere of influence.
So the bottom line is to be prepared. How one does that? Hard work? Hardly.
The keyword is planning. As in work planning, quality planning. And keeping those goals always updated. But hardwork only is just that: hardwork. The planning is the magic ingredient.
Be prepared for the usual and the unusual.
What if...
Colleen N
Healthy Home Consultant at Aerus
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My experience would suggest that because you put hard work into it you feel more deserving of "luck". I believe it is by my clarity that I get results.
When I am clear what is next for me, there is nothing that gets in my way.
Its true becouse LUCK is
L= Labour
U= Under
C= Correct
K= Knowladge
That's what drives us to hard work and makes our Luck shine on us....
Arnab S
Head - Entertainment & Projects at Living Media India Limited
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Sir,
You already have tons of answers.
I'll draw a very simple analogy.
What's luck - it's when your success rate goes exponential.
If you carefully watch chefs at kitchens, you'd find that the best ones chop veggies, with very sharp blades, very fast. At times they don't even look at the veggies.
Now, their fingers remain unharmed!
So, what you have done with "harder work" is sharpened your cerebral blade and reduced the risk of chopping your own finger.
Shrikant M
AVP at ABB Limited , Certified Manager of Quality & Organizational Excellence from ASQ
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Dear Ravinder,
When a person really works with -- committment , focus, crystal clear vision about his/her goals, continously thinking about the ways to achieve those goals, taking actions all the time, advancely preparing him/her self to take on that opportunity ( when it comes..) --- he/ she is bound to get success.
What will you call the above efforts - hard work or smart work ?
( although that is a separate question altogether...)
And we call that person "lucky" whenever he/she achieves success !!
(without knowing what efforts that person has been putting..)
BR/Shrikant.
Christoph R
Board Member at ESAE
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Dear Ravinder
I do agree with Jo Verde and Stefan Friedlander in the terms that luck does not stand in immediate correlation with hard work but that other factors, such as a general openness towards opportunities, play an important part here. In as much so, that I believe, the right mind set attracts 'luck'.
Then again, 'luck' can be defined in as many ways as there are people on this planet and I would probably not want to generalize this question too much.
Personally, I currently see - and maybe my mind is thus not open enough - that the harder I work (it could just as well be my friends and partners) the more work I receive. True, this opens up opportunities again to change and redirect one's focus. This depends, however on the resources you have at hand to transform it into your personal 'luck' and the way you measure the values you attach thereto.
An organizational culture that promotes hard work but does not open up ways to enjoy the success of it (if there is any), will see success in the short run rather than further down the road.
Thus, 'luck' can probably be linked to 'enjoyment' to a certain extend and I believe that linking this with hard work would probably mean that one should be able to enjoy the hard work at some point and earn the fruits of it in one way or another. For many people this may come in various ways, some like immediate consumption of their work, some will be happy and 'lucky' (?) if others prosper, perhaps even generations after them, all depending on the level and environment you place this question in.
I agree partially. I think one goes through different phases in one's life. Sometimes hard work pays; sometimes little or no work also pays. This happens when you are passing through a lucky period in your life. There are times when the going is not so easy. During such a phase even sincere and hard work does not pay the way it ought to have. During such a period it is best to work hard, lie low and wait for a more opportune time to enjoy the fruits of your hard work.
In my experience, there are 3 components to sucess ... natural ability/ talent, hardwork and luck.
Sometimes an overdose of one component can compensate for deficiencies in others but in the long run, all three play about equally important roles.
Since hardwork is the only component we can control, it offers us our only chance at improving our success rate.
Mariana C
MD, alkonnect ltd., Visionary Entrepreneur - Experienced Communication Executive
Dear Ravinder,
Do you believe in fairy tales? I read quite a few here, :-) but not as charmingly told, though just as far fetched as Grimm's... :)
Anyway, no one will ever tell you the reality behind their façade, thus you can either believe it blindly or use your 'wisdom' to imagine what's behind that façade... and assess 'stories' with a teaspoon of salt, at least!
Hard work, luck, chance are but words each of us define and perceive differently, as we do success...
Have you ever asked yourself why people who do everything RIGHT often get it WRONG?
Or why people who think they did everything RIGHT are NOT able to recognize they DID NOT, and make themselves believe they are DRIVERS of success?
Being he devil's advocate here, that is all... :-)
There is so much subjectivity and 'misinterpretation' in facts, it is really hard for me to give a competent, intelligent answer with a sweeping statement or one meagre example: for that would be a case in point, not illustrative of sustainable success or of... 'luck' [whatever the word means!].
These are comments, not facts or tales. Of those I have none to tell!
Be well!
