One of these days I read the book “lucky or smart” of Bo Peabody where the bottom line was, being lucky is “being smart enough to know when stand out of the way when luck comes around and things start flowing”.
If we look at some of the most successful leaders or entrepreneurs of the last decades we tend to think that for instance Bill Gates was lucky. He was on the right time and right place. At a distance and knowing only Gates after his social exposure and seeing him as an icon we might forget there was courage, hard work, hard decisions and struggle along the way. And one of the most important points: Proactivity. He seized the moment.
There were many with the same chances and opportunities as he had, many others even better placed or with some advantages. At School, at the big corporations like IBM or Xerox, with more life and work experience. With better conditions and influence. But he took the risks. He left school, moved and worked hard. With no guarantee of success. That made the difference.
Under Malcolm Gladwel view in his research of “Outliers”, Gates is an Outlier. Someone who was born in the right “habitat” to thrive. From his household, to the social, economic and student environment. All conditions were meet so he could grab the chance an take off. Yes some conditions were there. But there were for thousands living in the same area, coming from the same or similar environment. Why gates or just very few, and not “X” or “Y” or “Z” ? So an outliers needs not only “external favorable conditions and environment” but also character to thrive.
That’s very personal and can be absolutely random between each of us even coming from the same external (and internal, as family) and environment.
Character is something you build along the way, altogether with your inner sources and resources plus the external environment and how you relate to it. How you absorb, embed or use all those tools, conditions to boost your character as a human being. How you apply it. How you adapt it. How you take your shot. “pro-activity”. Seize the moment.
Build up your character based on people, work, belief, perseverance, action, planning, commitment, discipline, respect, gratitude and love. You’ll certainly get Lucky. But don’t be distracted when it knocks on you door. It will never show up big time with trumpets and balloons. Don’t miss it and say afterwards you’re unlucky.