“Luck affects everything; let your hook always be cast; in the stream where you least expect it, there will be a fish.”
–Ovid (43 BC – AD 17/18), Roman poet
Welcome to 2013!
I’ve been thinking of this year as Lucky ’13. While it may have had a dubious political and economic start, I sincerely believe our long-term outlook is positive.
Part of that positive outlook depends upon the realization that we can’t control the whole picture, no matter how hard we try. Some of what we do will naturally depend on our luck.
Yet when we talk about luck and our future fortune, I do believe we can increase our odds for good luck by recognizing the inherently random nature of much of our collective human experience. Often our good fortune comes from unexpected places. I know in my life that I’ve had a myriad of chance encounters with people on planes, at parties, and even in my local Starbucks. Many have had a profoundly wonderful impact on my life. (It’s much like Tuesday Tactics in that way… we didn’t know how it would work, but we thought somehow it would. We fostered an environment for unanticipated opportunities.)
So here’s what I advise for Lucky ’13: Do what you think is right, and work your business the way you think it makes sense. But also work to put yourself in situations where chance can apply its magic. Incorporate a little randomness in your life. Go against some of your habits and see what develops. Create those crucial gaps for surprising good fortune.
Do so, and I’m confident you’ll remain agile and resilient in your pursuits. Don’t lock yourself down too tightly… there may be options with huge upsides you’ll want to jump on when they present themselves.
