Unintentional Entrepreneur: Getting Lucky
The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.
– George Bernard Shaw
Hard Work and Luck
Financial security and stability are accomplished through hard work and luck. Don’t be fooled by what you may read in the magazines.
Profiles of success are stories about hard work and luck shrouded in public relations and ego. The funny thing about these stories is how luck gets downplayed and replaced with brilliance.
Do not let a story of impossible super-human accomplishments mislead you or discourage you from taking action. If you do not act, you will not eat.
You can work hard at anything to which you set your mind. The hard part may be standing on your own, persevere when challenged, and outlast your failures.
The hard part about standing on you own or leading the way:
- It’s uncomfortable to stand up in front of strangers.
- It’s uncomfortable to stand before your critics.
- It’s uncomforable to propose an idea that might fail.
- It’s uncomfortable to challenge the status quo.
- It’s uncomfortable to resist the urge to settle.
These behaviors are not often found in Corporate America. You may have to learn about them and then how to do them
You have enough time on your hands to do all of the hardwork but what about luck?
Fail to Succeed
You need to burn through a lot of bad ideas before you get to the good ones. Don’t fear a bad idea. Don’t fear failure.
The trick: fail fast, fail often, and failcheap. Failure is a great teacher. You will develop all of the skills you need for success through failure. The trick is not to lose all of your money or energy in the process (fail fast, fail cheap). You will get lucky.
If you are lucky enough, you will be the founder of the next Standard Oil or Microsoft.
After all, “Fortune assists the bold!” -Virgil
If you need some direction or a little help getting started, I put together a list of books I’ve found helpful.
