17. The Luck Factor

17

The Luck Factor

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets the opportunity.”

This quote presents a broad definition of what we call as luck. But it still needs some elucidation especially the scientific and psychological aspects. But, why are we discussing luck here? Since we have repeatedly emphasised the importance of research and science for start-ups, let us try to see the concept of luck in the same light. I consider this an important chapter for the same reason. Understand 2 things before knowing the factual aspects of luck; Luck is an important factor for any business and you are very lucky that you have the desire to chart your own course and this book is in your hands. How many of us have the tenacity to actually fight for our dreams? This is the reason that only a few are able to make a mark in the Indian start-up segment despite such a vast pool of talent. Most of the people accredit their situation to the luck factor but it’s a delusion. We are finding easy ways to escape from the efforts of willingness for creativity and innovations. Success and Luck is not the same thing but most of the people mistakenly mix these two factors. Many successful people consider themselves unlucky and many unsuccessful people can find many ways to feel lucky. Achieving your personal goal is to fall into the category of success or infelicitous. While remain happy in all the condition falls into the Luck category. One who’s happy is Lucky and according to Max Gunter (Author of

the Luck Factor), Lucky people are not necessarily optimistic but generally happy. So be happy and don’t let your creative thinking affected by the environment. Just a willingness to tackle the obstacle and self-motivation will nurture the desired results. It’s a science and science works on proven theories. Successful people seldom think about this luck connection. Although, you can hear them sometimes acknowledging their destiny. Many students often ask me about the role of luck in success. My first answer is to make them realize that being born as a human is a great fortune itself. As far as circumstances are concerned, no success story has ever been written without adversities. You are prone to upheavals even after you have attained success. Few can match Steve Jobs’ success as an entrepreneur. But he died because of the misfortune of cancer. You can only judge your fortune in hindsight. It doesn’t matter much while you are working towards your goal. Since most of us believe in prayers, it is pertinent to understand your life journey from the prism of destiny. This chapter aims to present a gist of various research findings on this topic. We credit or blame our luck for almost every important development in our lives. But, seldom do we understand what it means. We wish other people good luck almost every day and pass on the buck to the same luck when things go bad. There are some interesting research findings on the subject. The gamblers are the most researched lot for their luck. They risk everything on providence. Those with the greater win percentage are considered fortuitous. Not that they never lose, just that their success rate is higher. Life is also akin to gamble for some with similar parameters. During childhood, I always considered one of my friends as felicitous. He had an expansive house and his father owned a car. In contrast, I grew up in a less illustrious locality

and was doing different jobs from an early age. Then came a time when my friend’s parents got separated. His mother could not survive a fatal disease. To cut the long story short, It changed my perception for the same friend. I felt lucky that I was not him. My own circumstances looked much happier now and I felt gratitude for god. It is human nature to consider happy-looking pictures as lady luck’s blessing while adversities become a curse of misfortune. One must realize that somebody’s bad luck can be another person’s chance. Looking at the lesser privileged persons will make you think about yourself more positively. The auspicious their opposites are not pre-ordained. Existence isn’t as cruel. Our circumstances guide our lessons in life. Most factors are common to the entire humanity. We accept them as a social reality. These realities decide our response to various situations. However, there are some who manage to break these shackles and realize their true potential. The world marvels at their luck and pays obeisance to their talent. In reality, it is small decisions that shape their luck. We measure our luck with opportunities that come our way. The more we are able to avail, the favoured we feel. All of us know the importance of action. Yet, hidden fear of destiny remains alive in some corner of our heart. This fear sub-consciously makes us believe in providence. Nobody can control destiny is a cliché. Understand the true character of destiny. It is defined only after it has passed. It is the outcome that decides everything. Even the perception of the outcome may vary for different persons. For some, fortune is money while others cherish health as their greatest blessing. Some curse their gods for not having children while others rue their progeny’s lack of talent. This leads us to conclude that all of us have a life mixed with good and bad fortune. You must understand what it means

to be blessed for seeking blessings. Our lives are a sum total of our actions, that too of this birth only. It is not the doings of some forgotten incarnation that you can blame. Once a businessman and a beggar came to see a saint. The saint asked them to come one-by-one. The businessman sought the blessing of expanding his trade to many more cities. The saint complied. When beggar’s turn came, all he could ask for was people of 10 streets giving him alms instead of just one. He also got the boon. This means that both the businessman and beggar were equally fortunate when the left the enlightened man. What do you think? Our level of thinking decides good and bad for us. I often ask students praying for good marks that why they do not ask for something bigger if God is listening to them? However, a fortune for them is a solution to their immediate problem. They move from one desire to another. In other words, our luck is decided by what we want. Only consistent efforts can turn the course of your destiny. One meeting can change a life, but only if somebody has bothered to make that meeting happen. One research on this topic suggests that more people you meet, luckier you get. Likewise, lady luck showers more blessings on amiable, generous and honest people. It all comes down to what luck mean to you. Decide for yourself and gear up to transform your destiny. I can never forget what I once read at one mausoleum, ‘Baadab baanaseeb, beadab badnaseeb (courtesy brings you luck)’. You are lucky if you are patient and strong enough to welcome adversities. Nobody can match your misfortune if you are not ready to fight for a better destiny.

Things to remember:

1. Luck is important and you are very lucky. 2. Success or failure is not the measure of fortune. 3. You are the luckiest person if you are happy with the

present. 4. Fortune always favours a positive mind. 5. You awake the lady luck by meeting new people. 6. Your destiny is shaped by your personality and tenacity in the face of adversities. 7. Unfavourable circumstances can also bring good luck. 8. Only the ones favoured by fortune get a chance to struggle. 9. People who take on challenges invoke good fortune. 10. Results cannot decide good or bad fortune. Small failures are often a stepping stone to success.