Start-Up Tough Love: Luck is Hard Work
Sometimes people really don’t like me (hard to believe, I know.) That’s because I sometimes say things they don’t want to hear. Things like, “You can’t just think ‘it’ll all work out.’ It’s going to take many long hours of hard work to make your business profitable.”
Certainly, there is some serendipity in life and business. A (very) few people are “standing in the right place at the right time.” (lottery winners; one-hit wonders in technology; dim-witted politicians who were born into the right family; celebrities famous for being famous…) but do you really want to gamble your biz success on lottery luck?
We can’t sit back and wait for opportunity to come calling. (Sorry, that “secret” thing isn’t magic. See my post: The Only Four Secrets You Need to Know.)
As Lena West notes in her post over at Lip-Sticking, Screw Luck:
Even scientists who’ve studied luck say that it all boils down to your state of mind. That’s not luck. That’s something we each can control – our thoughts, responses and reactions…This isn’t a money thing for me. I believe that once you know how to make money, someone can take everything you have, drop you off in a new place and you’ll find a way to make money because it’s in your blood. This is a dream thing.
I know where I’m steering this ship. I don’t need the inconsistent concept of luck looming over my vessel. I’m not lucky. I’m on purpose.
I’d add it’s also a “work ethic” thing. Lena doesn’t just dream, she does.
Luck is hard work.
Related Post: So, people don’t like you.
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I especially like your comment “dim-witted politicians who were born into the right family.” Speaks volumes. For us, the small business owner – nothing replaces diligence and hard work. Starting a business is tricky and risky – keeping it running is hard work! As you say, Mary, it takes many LONG hours of HARD work. But, in the end, as a good friend used to say to me, if you love what you do… work is play.
That’s the great thing about what we do – work is life; life is work…and we can have fun all the time (well not all the time – we have to do some mundane things, like tax returns and such…aargggh.)