Luck (Photo credit: beancounter)Today is Friday the thirteenth--not a day we associate with good luck. In our marketing endeavors as in our everyday lives, luck can be good or bad. Most of the time luck just seems to happen--something over which we have no control. But is luck always serendipitous?
Recently a lottery mania swept the United States with the largest jackpot ever as the Mega Millions prize. One of the news reports told how the odds of winning were about one in 176 million. The report stated that one could win the over 600 million dollar jackpot by buying one ticket for each of the possible combinations of number, but pointed out the impracticality of being able to buy that many different tickets. The bottom line was that the odds of winning the lottery are not in your favor.
Marketing success has far better odds than winning the lottery, but still there is sometimes a bit of luck involved in hitting the jackpot. The more tickets you play, the more likely it is that you will come up with a winning combination. This is an extreme example for sure, but the point is that the more marketing ploys you try, the more likely it is you will hit upon a winner.
Don't be afraid to put yourself out there or to try unusual ideas to get your product noticed. You don't have to spend a fortune to do it. Often it's a matter of being in the right place at the right time or catching the attention of the right people. Happenstance may seem random but there is a reason for everything.
Why wait for your stars to line up? Good strategizing will do a better job of lining up the odds in your favor. Be prepared for any possibilities that may come your way and be ready to jump when opportunity knocks.
The winner of a show like American Idol is not always the most talented, most attractive, or most likable contestant. The finalists are chosen from thousands who are willing to try out. Those who make the cuts may manage to get by because of chance just as much as singing ability. If it's your day to get noticed then you need to be there ready to step on stage.
A quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson says, "I'm a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it." You can sit back and wait for luck to just fall into your lap and you may wait for a long, long time before anything ever happens, if it ever does. Or you can get smart and get busy and make your own luck.
I'm betting on the latter to be the winning ticket.
L as in:
A blog name filled with L's is Living, Learning, and Loving. Stephanie writes about homeschooling and writing or whatever else she has something to say about.
Another blog about life is Life, the University, and Everything . This blog is a diverse site by Elizabeth McCarthy, another blogger who takes the eclectic approach.
I find it an interesting coincidence that this post falls on the 13th of Friday myself Lee. L being the 13th letter of the alphabet is something I never realised before.
ReplyDeleteBut anyway, great post buddy, I agree completely with everything that you say, sometimes luck can have a huge role in business ideas being successful and it's a good reminder that the more times we try the more likely we are to have good luck, sometimes I don't think of things like that.
Hi, Lee! Oh, yeah, the luck of the draw is another expression. I had forgotten about today being Friday the 13th. I don't think about it too much. When I was teaching I did, because the kids made a lot of it. I know one thing, this has been a super fun challenge this year. I have felt more like taking a part in reading a lot of posts this time. So far, I've managed to keep up with my serialized fiction story, plus read over 550 other people's posts. Yahoo!
ReplyDeleteLove, Ruby
What a coincidence about Friday the 13th and this being the 13th letter. Great and interesting post as always Lee.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Great pep talk. Ready or not, Friday the thirteenth, here we come. I just connected the date, too, as I read my first post.
ReplyDeletewow i just now realized your right Friday the 13th how cool
ReplyDeleteWinning the lottery is pure luck...but you still have to Buy the ticket.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Lee. I have been working my tail off to get my WIP done by May and ready to pitch at the conference I am attending then. So far this last year the right people have been paying attention when I cross their path and I hope this conference is no different and my hard work pays off. We'll see. With God by my side and a little luck, anything is possible.
ReplyDeleteChecking in from A to Z.
Luck is an interesting subject. I suppose it can be seen as subjective as anything else in our world, or a person can truly put faith in it. I'm a firm believer in the simplicity of hard work, maybe mixed with a bit of luck...although I call it faith. :D
ReplyDelete'You've got to be in it to win it' but more than that, as you say, you've got to make your own luck.
ReplyDeleteSeveral of the blogs I've visited had a motivational theme today. Exactly when i needed a kick in the behind.
ReplyDeleteI like Jefferson's quote. I don't believe in luck, good or bad. Sucess comes from hard work, help from others, and by the grace of God.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize until yesterday that today would be Fri the 13th. Good thing I don't suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia or Paraskevidekatriaphobia!
luck is what you make it---great post and i have been following one of the blogs you suggested--love it--thanks!
ReplyDeleteAnother cool post! I like Jefferson's quote. Basically pull up your boot straps and try and try no matter what keeps hitting you down. Persistence pays off in the end.
ReplyDeleteGlad I'm the 14th comment...
ReplyDeleteA fun and thoughtgful (at the same time) entry. Thanks.
If you've the time, pop over to my blog. I'm the award winning author of the Bella and Britt series for kids.
There is no luck without effort.
ReplyDeleteI truly think it's my Christian background that keeps me from saying Good Luck or I've been lucky. Isn't that funny? I say instead I feel fortunate or blessed. Ha.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I'm not against good luck and have named a cat lucky in the past.
I need therapy.
T
T
Lee thanks so much for what you are doing in hosting this A to Z challenge
ReplyDeletethese dayz luck, hard work being in the right place all need a serious alignment
a tid bit - my very talented daughter is a theater major who auditioned for "America's Got Talent" for experience. Most contestants she saw lacked much in the talent department they made up for it by having the gumption to be absurd.
Maybe that's what success also requires a dash of the absurd
Cheers
L is Lovely Lady
Great post! My husband often claims that he got lucky three times - meeting me and having our two girls. I say luck is just being in the right place at the right time making the right choice. Or as you say - putting yourself out there and taking advantage of what's around you!
ReplyDeleteAs is the lottery, so is life- "You gotta play to win"!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
I would consider myself to be lucky if I am fit and healthy and not a burden on other people. If I happen to win a jackpot, then there it is cherry on top.
ReplyDeleteIt was funny to see people lining up for lottery tickets last week. LOL
ReplyDelete- Maurice Mitchell
The Geek Twins | Film Sketchr
@thegeektwins | @mauricem1972
Yes, I know it's Friday the 13th...I've been having internet problems all morning.
ReplyDeleteI totally forgot about it being 4/13 today--relevant topic then Lee.
ReplyDeleteThe Mrs. I prefer to use "good skill" over good luck. I think the Jefferson quote speaks well to our reasoning.
My dad always told me "you make your own luck" btw I was born on friday the 13th, different month though :)
ReplyDeleteWhat is the quote, 'Overnight success is when preparation meets opportunity?'
ReplyDeleteA great L post, Lee.
Luck is opportunity and timing colliding.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree with this. We've got to work as hard as we possibly can and the luck might follow.
ReplyDeleteSarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)
Call me picky but - surely L is the 12th letter of the alphabet (not the 13th as some have said here!?) The reason it falls on the 13th of the month for this challenge is down to the fact that we've skipped over a Sunday.
ReplyDeleteAnyway - lucky or unlucky, I'd forgotten about that; but then I'm not really superstitious!
As for winning the lottery - well, the £1 paid for a ticket here in the UK is worth the fun and anticipation of winning. I draw the line at choosing to gamble away the family food money, though!
If I won I'd see my family right and probably put a little away for a rainy day and then give the rest away - you can't take it with you when you die and you might as well try to do some good with it, right?
I believe in luck, because hard work alone is not enough. However, as you've noted, luck is not just going to fall in your lap. You need to put yourself out there, and you need to maintain a positive attitude. Luck isn't looking for negative energy. Stay positive and attract the luck.
ReplyDeleteJolie du Pre
Precious Monsters
I always say: The harder you work, the luckier you get! and I believe that completely.
ReplyDeleteMy husband chose not to make a financial transaction today because it is Friday the 13th! He's usually not superstitious. There is definitely something to the message and the marketing that gets out there!
I know where to come to get a dose of wisdom!
ReplyDeleteYour wisdom is appreciated!
http://bettyalark.blogspot.com
Yes, Sue H., you are correct that L is the 12th letter.
ReplyDeleteLuck can be called by many names and interpreted in many ways, but the bottom line is that the more you shoot for your goals your chances of reaching them get better. You never know when your opportunity may suddenly appear, but if you're not paying attention and not ready then you'll probably miss it.
Lee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing a shout-out to Liz at "Life, the University, and Everything." She's a new blogger and hopefully her A-Z experience will be rewarding!
Very true. You can't get lucky if you aren't willing to try. =)
ReplyDeleteWe bought a ticket just like all the others who did not win. Still, we had hopes.
ReplyDeleteLove the Jefferson quote.
GREAT blog!! I agree, you should be open to different ideas and approaches. I find that hard to do at times, but, I am trying :)
ReplyDeleteVisiting from A-Z Blog Challenge
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
ReplyDelete~Lucius Annaeus Seneca~
There are many different things I tried to get my blog that I never thought I would. Some worked, while others failed miserably.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of making your own luck. Everything else is impossible to control!
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Lee!! We do create our luck by preparing and just plain old hard work! I agree with several quotes from the commenters above. Keeping the "Just Do It" attitude is the way to go.
ReplyDeleteCheers and have a good weekend!
Ana
Yikes! I think I attributed that quote to Stephen Leacock earlier today... oops!
ReplyDeleteAh Lee,
ReplyDeleteTalk about "luck". Well you got some great luck because, once again, I'm leaving you one of my much loved, eagerly sought after, highly treasured comments.
And dude, it's Saturday in lil' ol' England. In fact, with time zones, I've already completed my musings for "M" and my notes for "N". Gosh, what's happening to me? Must be your persuasive charm.
My father liked to quote Jefferson. He always pointed out the work came first before the good luck.
ReplyDeleteI shoulda bought a ticket!
ReplyDeleteYes, I think there's a bit of luck in everything.
Did you know that 17 is the unlucky # in Italy?
I agree, there's always some luck, or maybe it's fate. being in the right place at the right time. getting there a little too early or too late.
ReplyDeletep.s. I didn't win the 600 million.
I think that it's always nice to have a little bit of luck when you least expect it. Great Jefferson quote! Julie
ReplyDeleteJemi -- There is some debate as to who said this quote first and it has been said in various ways by different people.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for your comments. I didn't win the lottery either.
Lee
Being open to change and opportunities. Some people call it luck, others wouldn't know it if they tripped over it.
ReplyDeleteI've decided to spend today visiting my "old" blog mates rather than moving on in the sequence as suggested and I'm so pleased I have!
Sue: An A-Z of Climate Matters
Sue -- I'm glad you stopped by too. I've been trying to make it through the list, but neglecting a lot of my old mates as you describe them. This is a big undertaking.
ReplyDeleteLee
Great post Lee. We're lucky to have you come up with the AtoZ. I can say that now we're past half way.. It was a bit hard there for a mo.. Hope you're enjoying this years as much as we are reading your posts.
ReplyDeleteFriday 13 lived up to its reputation. Computer exploded. I came down with the flu. It rained. Trying to catch up with my A to Z today and hoping another of those Fridays don't happen for a while.
ReplyDeleteLynne -- Glad to hear you're enjoying the A to Z. I know I am--there's just not enough time to enjoy it all to the fullest extent.
ReplyDeleteC.Lee -- Not a good Friday. With all the lightening yesterday I was afraid that my computer would get fried with a power surge. But I was lucky it didn't happen.
Lee
This is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI find it somewhat amazing that most of the words that mean beautiful things start with the letter "L".
Luck, Love, Laugh, Live, Learn. True there are sad ones like Lonely, but the other five make up for it. Don't you agree?
http://notingthemorningdew.blogspot.com/
Morning Dew-- thank you for saying so. I've never thought of those L words in the way you mention, but I do agree. It's pretty cool.
ReplyDeleteLee (starts with an L!)