Highly successful people do 5 things to be lucky in life: Stanford leadership expert
For 27 years, I ran programs at Stanford University focused on leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation. One of the most important lessons I teach my students is how to create opportunities for luck.
Contrary to popular belief, luck is not random or rare. I like to compare luck to the wind: You can’t see it, but it’s strong and everywhere. If you know how to sail, you can use it and make it work for you.
Here are five ways to catch the spirit of luck every day.
1. The luckiest people have strong values
To define your core values, pay attention to what is important to you, and where you will not back down.
If you have strong core values, you can better see if an opportunity is in line with who you want to be or if it is a dangerous distraction.
For example, if someone asks you to change the numbers in a cost report or exaggerate what your product can do, it’s much easier to say “no” when you have a clear sense of honesty and integrity.
When people see your principles in action, it builds trust. This can lead to great opportunities down the road because like-minded people will see you as someone to follow.
2. Lucky people take their stories
Most people have a fixed idea about what is possible for them. There is a cruel and limiting voice in their head that sounds like, “I’m not good at this,” or “It’s always been this way.”
It’s easy to get bogged down by the past or feel like you have no control over what’s next. That’s how people get stuck in situations that no longer work for them.
When you start to see yourself as someone who knows how to overcome adversity, whether it’s a difficult task or a challenging workplace, you become more aware of the agency you have. do you must make positive changes in your life.
3. Lucky people make room for miracles
Every decision you make, no matter how small, has the power to dramatically change the course of your life.
That choice can be as simple as saying hello to the person standing next to you in line, calling an old colleague you haven’t spoken to in years, or waking up an hour earlier to exercise.
That person in line may become a lifelong friend. Driving an old colleague can lead to an exciting new job. Getting up early to exercise may save your life.
4. Very lucky people embrace imposter syndrome
Many of us suffer from imposter syndrome – they feel like frauds due to lack of information. The most fortunate people understand that every new experience comes with a chance of success or failure. Feeling stretched is part of growing up.
Let’s redefine imposter syndrome as “improvement syndrome.” Think of a child learning to walk: He will fail again and again, but every stumble brings him closer to success.
Instead of feeling ashamed of your missteps, I suggest that you keep the failure going. Whenever you are faced with a disappointment or regret, write down what you learned from each one and what you can do differently next time.
Once you accept that success lies on the other side of difficult lessons, you open the door to a lucky break.
5. The luckiest people always show appreciation
Showing appreciation may be the cheapest way to increase your luck. A simple act of gratitude, acknowledging someone’s effort on your behalf, can have a huge impact.
Appreciation comes in many forms, including a formal thank-you note, social recognition, or a small but thoughtful gift that shows you’ve been paying attention.
People who feel valued are more likely to help you in the future, while those who feel taken for granted will choose not to. Ultimately it is one of the most powerful ways to use luck.
Tina Seelig is the executive director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University. his book”What I Wish I Knew By Luck,” focuses on how to use luck to turn your ambitions into success. Dr. Seelig received his Ph.D. from Stanford School of Medicine where he studied neuroscience.
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