Inspirational Thoughts on Luck and Life

You have likely heard the phrase, “The luck of the Irish,” especially around St. Patrick’s Day. There are several theories on the origin of the phrase. One theory is that the semi-sarcastic quip refers to the unluckiness of the Irish who suffered plagues and famine. The other believes that phrase originated in response to the Irish immigrants that came to the United States and mined for gold and silver, which they found in abundance. People attributed their good fortune to luck, rather than skill or brainpower.

No matter which story you believe, their success stemmed from the same things…persistence and perseverance. Most successful people will tell you that luck depends not so much upon happenstance as it does circumstance. How do you master your circumstances to bring about what appears to be good luck?

These eight “lucky” people offer their takes on what luck—Irish or otherwise—really is.

I’ve found that luck is quite predictable. If you want more luck, take more chances. Be more active. Show up more often. – Brian Tracy

It is said that Thomas Edison tried 1,000 times before he invented the light bulb. He did not see it as 1,000 failed attempts, rather, he though of the process as 1,000 steps to success. How many doors will you open before you open the lucky one?

Luck? I don’t know anything about luck. I’ve never banked on it and I’m afraid of people who do. Luck to me is something else: Hard work – and realizing what is opportunity and what isn’t. – Lucille Ball

You may not always recognize opportunities. If that’s the case, maybe you haven’t failed enough times to know the right opportunity when you see it. Work harder, and fail forward.

Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come. – Serena Williams

Solid preparation enables you to be ready to strike when “luck” presents itself. Someday, those contacts you made through various Chamber of Commerce functions really might open the door to the opportunity of a lifetime, and you will be ready.

I have a lucky perfume. I love beautiful smells, but I save one of my favorite perfumes to wear only when I feel like I need some extra luck.—Gretchen Rubin

The true beauty of a lucky perfume, a lucky bracelet, or any talisman is its ability to bolster the spirit. If your lucky talisman provides you the strength to believe you can, then you CAN.

You just don’t luck into things as much as you’d like to think you do. You build step-by-step, whether it’s friendships or opportunities. –Barbara Bush

When you haven’t felt particularly lucky, consider your actions. Have you missed a critical step or two? It is possible that you have not paved the way adequately for the lucky break you have been waiting to receive.

Women attribute their success to working hard, luck, and help from other people. Men will attribute that – whatever success they have, that same success – to their own core skills. – Sheryl Sandberg

Own your investment in your  “luck.” More than likely, your did not get where you are today strictly by chance. You have skills, you work tirelessly, and you don’t give up easily. Be proud of what you have done. Don’t make the mistake of downplaying your role in your own success.

I never leaf through a copy of National Geographic without realizing how lucky we are to live in a society where it is traditional to wear clothes. – Erma Bombeck

Bombeck’s comment was likely tongue in cheek, however, there’s always that grain of truth. Recognizing the luck, or good fortune, in the little things in life will often make the big things more manageable.

If you’re lucky enough to do well, it’s your responsibility to send the elevator back down.—Kevin Spacey

Regardless of  whether you feel like you had lucky breaks in your career, or you know that only your hard work got you where you are today, the ability to assist someone else in their rise to the top means you have made it. Mentor someone else toward his or her “lucky break.”

Luck, quite possibly, is a euphemism some successful people use in order to make their hard work look easy. Don’t let the term “luck” fool you. Dedication, passion, relentless hard work…these things are really “the luck of the Irish.”