Have you wondered why some people get ahead or how some businesses prosper?
We accept that succeeding in business, or in life for that matter, requires talent, supportive environment and without a doubt, a measure of luck. Aristotle said, “Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution.”
He also said, “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit.” That reminds me of a quote attributed to a professional golfer, “I find the more I practice, the luckier I get.”
An article titled, “The Role of Luck in Life Success Is Far Greater Than We Realized” by Scott Barry Kaufman recounts a simulation that attempted to quantify the role of luck and talent in successful careers. The results were that in general, those with greater talent had a higher probability of increasing their success by exploiting the possibilities offered by luck.
From this and other studies, Kaufman’s concluded that “luck and opportunity play an underappreciated role in determining the final level of individual success.”
That view supports one of my favorite quotes on this subject from Ross Brawn, legendary Formula 1 team leader and now F1 Managing Director.
He said, “Luck is preparation waiting for an opportunity.”
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