Do you have the mistaken belief that you need good luck in your life? Do you believe you need to be at the right place at the right time or that you need some sort of good fortune in order to accomplish your goals and have things go your way? Well, if you do, today is the day to dispel that myth because even if you don’t realize it, it is working against you.
It is holding you back.
When you look at things on the surface, it can seem they are randomly happening and that there is a good deal of luck involved in getting things to go your way. You see other people that have accomplished things and although you may know they are talented, you also credit some of their success to luck and being in the right place at the right time.
For example, your colleague gets a random promotion instead of you or you notice many people successfully doing what you dream of doing one day as a career. Did they just get a lucky break?
No, not at all because there is no such thing as luck.
Their success may be able to be attributed to many things, such as discipline, confidence, hard work, perseverance, and the fact that they genuinely are a good person.
However, luck and good fortune is just not a part of the picture.
This is not to say that things didn’t go their way or that they weren’t actually in the right place to take advantage of an opportunity. However, it was not a matter of luck. They helped to create the necessary momentum and conditions in their life to produce their success.
Many people misunderstand the real factors of success, but you can take notice of them and be guaranteed great results. You can create the conditions in your own life that will set the stage for your success.
However, you can no longer believe in luck or feeling that certain things you want to accomplish are beyond your control.
If you believe in luck, even if you have all the confidence in the world, in the back of your mind there will always be thoughts that you also need a little bit of luck to compliment your talent, your sincerity in purpose, and your hard work.
There is nothing that could be farther from the truth.
Thinking you have to beat the odds or be the beneficiary of random good fortune if you are ever going to really succeed can be discouraging. It also allows you to overlook important lessons you really need to be successful because you write off your lack of success as a lack of luck or good fortune, when that really is not the case.
So, today is the day to get rid of any and all misconceptions about luck.
What to do differently today (if you aren’t already):
Recognize there is no such thing as luck by understanding the true aspects of success.
The best way to do that is to take a closer look at other people who are successful and the things they have experienced. You will also need to go through many of the same things and you will also need to have similar positive outlooks and perspectives. Once you realize all of these things, you will know how to navigate through your own journey to success and realize that luck has absolutely nothing to do with it.
Ten Important Realizations About Truly Successful People:
1. Along the way, they had successes and failures. Although they loved the successes, they also appreciated the failures because they recognized both were a part of their success.
2. They learned to have unwavering confidence in their potential and ability to accomplish what they wanted.
3. They realized it wasn’t just about reaching their destination and accomplishing goals. They remained focused on their destination, but they enjoyed every step of the journey and all they learned along the way.
4. They were disciplined.
5. They continually poured all of their passion and positive energy into the step that was immediately in front of them. They didn’t worry about tomorrow and instead focused on doing whatever they were doing today with the utmost quality.
6. They prioritized accomplishing their goals and were willing to make appropriate sacrifices.
7. They put forth an amazing amount of effort.
8. They overcame challenges and obstacles. They never allowed any challenge to discourage them too much or cause them to quit. They always persevered.
9. They kept the positive energy continually flowing and had a great mindset day after day.
10. Generosity, sincerity and kindness were and still are some of their best traits.
Live Today Better than Yesterday.
Do you agree? What are some things you have noticed about successful people? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.
I love this post Sibyl!
I NEVER say “Good luck.” I cannot bring myself to do it. And when someone says it to me I feel like I would erase it if I could. Do you know what I mean?
Good luck is right up there with “try” and “can’t” and “if”. Aaargh… I am so glad you wrote about this.
I love your list of 10 Important Realizations. Successes and failures? Absolutely. Fail more! Overcoming challenges and obstacles? Amen.
Have you heard this question posed of a successful man? “Well sir, what helped you overcome the obstacles on your road to success? Why, the other obstacles he replied.” (Napoleon Hill).
~Theresa
Theresa: I am a big Napoleon Hill fan. I don’t know that I have come across that question, or if I have, I forgot about it. Thanks so much for bringing it top of mind. It really is a good one. You and I are definitely on the same page when it comes to luck. I think we have to realize everything happens for a reason and understand that we have a part in it all. Thanks so much for the comment.
“The luck of the Irish”
‘Saving the hay’ on a family farm in West Clare came with very hard work, but…
“10. Generosity, sincerity and kindness were and still are some of their best traits.”
…this is what I remember most about the work…there were no lucky pots of gold out in the fields.
—————————–
“Lucky Slots” – “Lucky at Cards” – “Lucky Seven/Eleven”
I worked two years at a casino both in the theater and doing permanant cable installation. I came out a ‘winner’ because I never gambled…not once.
I can appreciate putting forth that amazing amount of effort while ‘keeping the positive energy continually flowing and a great mindset day after day’.
Should I say? It was a ‘Lucky day’ I found you Sibyl. No…perhaps not…more like:
… “but they enjoyed every step of the journey and all they learned along the way.”
Rand: Interesting … I think it is all about realizing that everything happens for a reason. You can create the right type of momentum in your life to create the right opportunities. Thanks for the comment and stopping by.
I think luck is simply opportunity meets preparation. Everyone really has the same amt of luck. We may feel we aren’t born with beauty, or good genes, but you may instead have an uncanny ability to think of hidden opportunities, or learn languages faster than most people. We just have to have the courage and will to determine where our strengths lie and pursue them all the way to the end.
Henway: I love that … opportunity meets preparation. Everything really does happen for a reason and when you are doing what you should to create the right momentum in your life, there are always opportunities to take advantage of. Thanks so much for sharing your comment and stopping by. Much appreciated.
Hi Sibyl,
Very nice! I believe we make our own luck by having belief and confidence in ourselves. The ones who seem “lucky” are the ones who trust their abilities, have faith, and expect to get what what they desire. In otherwords, they focus on success instead of failure or mistakes. As always Sibyl, great job
Hey Dia: Thanks for the comment and for stopping by. Much appreciated. I agree with you that we are able to shape our future and create the positive momentum we need in our lives. Great point. Thanks for sharing it and thanks for stopping by.
Hi Sibyl,
There are many events that happen in this world which we cannot fathom with logic and the naked eye. While I do not believe that a person who relies solely on luck will have lasting success, I do believe that there is such a thing as opportunities that will come our way. Take the example of a beggar who has just won the lottery. That is sheer luck. But the person is a beggar for many reasons and he might not have the financial savvy to manage his newfound wealth. Even if he is lucky, it might not be something that is lasting or something he has the capacity to take full advantage of.
The important thing here is to be prepared to seize these opportunities because they will not last. If we can seize these opportunities, then our success may be deemed as luck to the untrained eye. As for how to be prepared for such opportunities, your 10 important realization of truly successful people covers this point comprehensively.
Thank you for sharing this lovely article!
Irving the Vizier
Hey Irving: Really appreciated the comment. I totally understand what you are saying. I think what I was trying to say was that nothing really is random. Everything happens for a reason. I would say that the beggar won the lottery because it was a part of his journey and lesson
I don’t know how clear that point came across in the post, but I think we are on the same page … as always 
Thanks for the comment.
What an interesting thought–no luck. My first reaction was that certain opportunities have appeared in my life quite apart from anything I did. One time I was simply walking down the hall and happened to pass the “big boss” who stopped me and gave me an assginment that changed my career direction in a very good way. He wasn’t looking for me or even thinking of me. He would have asked whoever he saw first. Isn’t that luck?
Of course, seeing an opportunity and taking advantage of it is a result of our own effort. That part I’ll own!
Thanks for a thought-provoking post!
Hey Galen: Thanks for the comment. I guess when I say “no luck” what I am really trying to say is that everything happens for a reason. Nothing is really random. I don’t know if that came across as clearly as it should have in this post. Thanks for pointing that out
Thank you for the comment and stopping by. Much appreciated as always.
Ah, yes, then we are in complete agreement! Thanks for the clarification!
I knew we would be
We always are 
Thanks for stopping back by.
hello sibyl
how are you?
the concept portrayed in this post is very controversial however i subscribe to your school of thought and i must say the vizier brought a balance to it in his comment
you’ve also raised an important with reference to us missing out on the important lessons/experience as a result of hanging on to notion of luck for succeeding in life.
i also liked the important things to note about successful people and i guess i really need to work more on being disciplined, generous and keeping the positive energy flowing.
thanks for sharing this article
take care of yourself and enjoy the rest of the day
Ayo: Thanks for the comment and stopping by. I can’t imagine that you need to work on being disciplined, generous and keeping the positive energy flowing
I am sure you have that covered. Thanks again.
Just one Sibyl? Phew! I guess though lack of success stems from one or two core dis-beliefs – disbelief in our true ability, or the result, or the plan we are following, or just in life to deliver us safely to our own promised land. Once those disbeliefs are gone, true belief can manifest like never before.
So true John. Belief in luck definitely is connected to a lack of belief in our true ability and what we really are capable of. I do agree with you that it is all about chipping away at those beliefs that are holding us back. The sky is the limit once we are really able to do that. Thanks for the comment and stopping by.
Hi Sibyl,
The truth about successful achievers is that they create their own luck by attracting the right and perfect circumstances so that they my thrive. Receiving the truth about others helps us to receive the truth about ourselves, but to receive the truth, we must favor the truth over fiction.
Favoring the truth about our self, requires refusing the comfort of usual explanations; it requires valuing the unfamiliar. Any day that we value the unfamiliar is a wonderful day of exploring.
Rob: As usual … I love your quotes. Valuing the unfamiliar is such great advice. It really could be a post in and of itself
And, as you mentioned people who are doing the the right things naturally attract great opportunities to themselves to take advantage of. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and stopping by. Always appreciated.
Sibyl,
I have heard that luck is where preparation and purpose collide. You don’t need luck to make things happen but you need to be prepared to take advantage of what happens. I can in no way provide tips on how to be sucessful as I am still striving to get there myself but the tips you provided have given me some serious food for thought. Thanks
So true Frank. I have heard that statement before as well and I agree with what you said. It really is all about being prepared to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way. Thanks so much for the comment and stopping by. Always great to hear your thoughts.
Sibyl, I seriously hope as many people as possible read this article. I’ll be Tweeting it and sharing it on Facebook, because it’s really important that everyone understands what luck is.
It’s non-existent.
Luck is that word that ‘normal’ people use when describing someone who’s above average. It’s a real shame, because instead of asking them how they got to be where they are, they say, “Oh he/she just got lucky, they’ve got too much money and it won’t last anyway.”
What rubbish!!
Luck doesn’t exist. What exists is due reward for the work and effort that is put in, and recognition for the desire and courage to push on. To dismiss someone’s incredible efforts and persistence as ‘luck’ is, quite frankly, sickening, and it does indeed boil my blood.
I better stop now before I explode
Stuart: Don’t explode
You know I am in complete agreement with what you said. I do think we do ourselves a disservice when we write things off as good luck. We don’t acknowledge all the good we have done and take credit for generating some good momentum in our lives. Things just naturally come to us to take advantage of when we are doing the right things … and as you said, that has nothing to do with luck. Thanks so much for the comment. Always appreciated.
> It is holding you back.
So true.
I’m a fan of serendipity and making the most of situations. As my friend’s Dad put it, “luck is when skill and opportunity come together.”
I also like the saying, “Chance favors the prepared mind.”
A lot of great things that happen are serendipity in action, but it’s when I see somebody take the bull by the horns and shape the outcome.
J.D. “Chance favors the prepared mind”. That is a good one. I actually haven’t heard it specifically said that way. I may have to use that one in the future
Thanks for sharing it and thanks for the comment. It is so true what you said about a lot of great things happening when we take the bull by the horns and shape the outcome.
Truly, there’s no such thing as luck and luck works with 4 letter word people don’t want to hear – WORK. Only people who want to get out there and achieve their dreams succeed. Thanks for sharing the list..
Lynne