Was I just lucky?
Well the truth is – there was all kinds of luck involved in my story. But it wasn't always what you’d expect, because not all luck is good luck. And what I’ve found is there is another factor that matters a whole lot more than luck when it comes to your success…
Please leave a comment below and tell me what you think…
Katische
Thanks Jeff- a great booster. I agree with you. I’m playing to win, and the best bit about winning, is being able to bring along other people with you- other small businesses, and your family and friends 🙂 Merry Christmas!
Katische
Heidi
There is a Chinese story of a farmer who used an old horse in his fields. One day, the horse escaped into the hills and when the farmer’s neighbors sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, ’‘Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?” A week later, the horse returned with a herd of horses from the hills, and the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was, “Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?”
Then, when the farmer’s son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought that was bad luck. Not the farmer, whose only reaction was, “Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?”
Some weeks later, the army marched into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found. When they saw the farmer’s son with his broken leg, they let him off. Now, was that good luck or bad luck? Who knows?
Everything that seems, on the surface, to be bad luck may be good luck in disguise. And everything that seems fortunate may not be as it seems.
Jeff Walker
It’s a good story… and I’ve heard variations of it before. It really is about perspective… just like when I had my business stolen. It was painful, and I had a lot of emotions to work through with the loss – but even in the midst of the emotions I knew it was setting me up for something bigger.
Tracy
I enjoyed your video. In regard to the concept of luck, I saw some interesting studies that demonstrate that lucky people create, notice, and act upon the chance opportunities in their lives. Lucky people try stuff, they don’t suffer from paralysis by analysis. In the study, unlucky people were sent to “luck school” and taught how to act more like lucky people. The results showed that students were luckier and happier after attending the school. They basically trained them to do some of the things that you talked about in your video 🙂
David Price
Interesting comment. Luck is hard to quantify. It seems to be a mix of nerve, determination, cautious risk-taking, aligning with the Universe’s intentions for you (which may be better than you think), timely letting go of useless or too-small identities and possessions, and even a kind of creative play or fun. And a game you love to play is a whole lot easier to play and win than one you can’t care about no matter how much you try.
Tracy
Nicely stated!
Erik
You are absolutely right Jeff. Everything you do is lucky, everything that everyone else does will also turn out to be lucky, in the end. Provided they believe it will be. It is all in the belief. People who say you are lucky are envious and they are right, you are lucky, but so are they, but they don`t see it due to their lack of belief in being lucky.
I Just love the way you approach things Jeff..
Erik of Norway.
Michael Gorman
I would say the luck that involved is in being able to identify exactly what you want to pursue -it seems people like yourself have a ‘knack’ of being able to focus really closely on a specific direction, and know what it is you want to achieve. The many thousands that pursue online success and fail, do so because they are less certain of themselves, and the business direction they should follow. Just like there are ‘natural sportsmen’ or natural musicians, perhaps there are innately natural business people who have a talent for translating their experiences into business directions. Lots of ‘wannabe’ online success stories, but they lack something – interesting to study this actually 🙂
Mike
Hi Jeff,
It will not be bad luck if you knock your iPad off the mezzanine railing!
Jeff Walker
LOL … it was awkward holding that iPad, so I took a chance putting it on the banister. Fortunately, I didn’t knock it off. I guess I was lucky. 🙂
Adama
Jeff, that was a very special video. I will listen to it often. I also resonated with what you said about having luck going the opposite way. I am starting my new venture as a single mum with two young autistic children. I almost feel like the only way is up for me! My ‘luck’ will only get better and better. This video has helped me to sharpen my mindset. I will aim to win, for myself and for my kids. Thank you so much.
Jaco Duvenhage
Wow. Thanks Jeff. What a fantastic reminder. It is all about making the decision an with it ,the 110% believe that I am doing it and are successful. Love it. Appreciate the reminder.
James
Really look forward to your weekly video. Can’t say why, but it took a long time to REALLY pay attention. Wish I understood how you do that!
Thank you!
kenneth daniel
Luck is the place where opportunity and preparedness meet. Luck is not an accident, but rather something we wittingly or unwittingly we create. It is something that we would do well to acknowledge and encourage others to accept Luck as something that we can depend on and decide in advance what kind of Luck we would like to have and then go out and create it.
Competition is anyone/anything that is likely to provide an equal or better product or service for an equal or better price. I do not have Competition, I am the Competition.
Failure is really a great thing! I believe that Success is the realization of a Goal and Failure is what we have left after we abandon our goal. Success is best, and Failure is second best. Failure is the tool that we use to declutter our lives.
Commitment is what determines what happens to our Goal. There are Four Steps to Success you can use if you would like to have Success.
1. Set your Goal
2. Commit to your Goal
3. Make your Plan (you will probably require support at this point)
4. Work your Plan
Tabitha
I know you’re right. Deciding to win AND moving forward are on the slate for 2016 for me! Thanks for the pep talk.
Jeff Whitaker
Great reminder Jeff. Thanks as always. I love the quote attributed to Thomas Jefferson as well. He said, “I find the harder I work, the luckier i get.”
Cordelia
Confidence comes with walking the path. I started my business six months ago. However, it took me 15 years to create the business. I finally realized that I was always my own brand. That propelled me to sit down, organize and document it. Jeff you are are so right…you have to be uncomfortable and follow through.
Don Olund
I like. Simon. Says! I also like to win. Because when I do people’s lives are impacted for good. This video inspired me to keep the edge, playing to win, staying focused on the goal. Thanks Jeff.
Jan
My husband is a brand new PLF owner and is in it to win! We are very excited! Thanks for sharing all your knowledge!
Shelley Brander
My favorite blog entry you’ve posted all year! Thank you for the work, heart and soul you put into these each week. I, for one, am grateful that you’ve been so “lucky” and have chosen to share your gifts with the world. The impact is still spreading out into the world, every single day.
Jeff Walker
Thanks Shelley! 🙂
Emma
Mine too – really timely as have just been screwed over, and had come to a full stop over it but this showed me I was pausing before going back into play to win and sort it out – negativity in any circumstances is so debilitating and I was tired of having done all the work only not to be paid and then having to sort out cash flow and fighting for the outstanding monies – it’s so right, time passes no matter what, how you spend it is up to you, and everything is an opportunity in disguise, if only so next time you don’t make the same mistake or do it better – am trying to use this situation to make more business connections as I sort it …we’ll see how it goes, but this has refreshed my energy levels – thank you and it my favourite one of Jeffs this year too xxx
Merrie Skaggs
This video spoke to my core. My clear or not-so-clear intent or commitment/non-commitment is the deciding factor. The conversation I need to have is with myself. I thank you, Jeff, for this reminder of what I already knew but have been ignoring. Even your example of your not investing in winning the Simon Says game was an example of the choices we each make to choose to win or not. You are a gift to me and the rest of the wanna-be world. May you unwrap precious gifts this holiday season!
Suzanne
Thanks for your messages, Jeff. Always inspirational and thought-provoking. I really like you point in this video about making a decision to do something, doing it, and changing your life and others’ lives in the process. Thank you!
Constance Klein
Greetings from Bozeman. This strikes a HUGE cord w/me for many reasons, but I’ll limit my response to two words you use in this post: luck and decision. Luck/lucky …It always bugged me when people told me I was lucky. I was lucky to have a wise father who was intrigued with the power of the mind research in the early 60s who taught me about goal setting, visualization and decision making. Being told I was lucky showed me that me the lack of understanding/acknowledgement of the process, the work and the intentional nature of my ‘luck’. Starting with my move to Europe at a young age to my first sabbatical to now ‘broadcasting’ my move to create a new business in 2016 (with Launch Club as my support system), I always seem to be doing something people ‘wish’ they could do. My ‘lucky’ journey has a formula and I believe it is a big part of I am supposed to teach/share/impart (my wisdom). My avatar, broadly speaking, would be people who are willing to do the hard work – what I call the groundwork for greatness – that yes oftentimes brings luck into my path. And this brings me to the second word: decision. Tony Robbins speaks a lot about the power of decision…..and that we get tripped up and shut down by immediately going to how (not being able to see how you can actually do something). The ‘luck’ happens when one decides to make a change. The power and the magic and the shift happens in the moment of decision. The universe conspires in the best way possible when we declare our intentions.
Thank you for the wonderful post. It has many nuggets of truth and is a message worth sharing in every which way.
John O
Often times it takes a lot of hard work and several failures to look so lucky. I am reminded by a string of people over my life who have commented “You always seem to land on your feet – you sure are lucky”. In contrast, these are the people who sit on the fence and watch the world go by and never take any risk. They are more afraid of failing than they are committed to success, so they never even try.
Frank Allgäuer
Thanks Jeff, great post and just what I needed today. I don’t believe in luck but it is very easy to drift away. Lieben Gruß
Jenna
It’s true & being in it to win it is such an energizing & fun way to build success!! I worked hard & built an incredible organization for 5 years. There was greed at the top level and it all disappeared overnight. From total devastation, emerged a new path that was more authentic, engaging & my true life’s work. Now I’m putting it out there that I want to be a part of a new team. Will I be “lucky?” We’ll see… Whatever happens, I’ll keep your motto, Jeff,… “In it to win it!” in this fun game called life!
Jeff
Jeff
Thank you for the reminder of playing too win! I know too many times in my life complacency has taken a hold of me and my ambitions. It’s time to play to win in every aspect of my life. It’s time to really put into action all those good intentions and put to rest the excuses in my head.
Thank you for the clarity!
Jeff
Jeff Jones
Hey Jeff,
It’s amazing how many times we catch ourselves throughout the day playing to play and NOT deciding to win. You’re right… it does matter whether it’s important to us. Just like you playing Simon Says.
I’m pretty sure being successful in business is pretty high up on this group’s list.
Thanks again for your incredible insight and Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Jeff
Jeff Walker
The thing is… we need to be selective. There are many games that I don’t play to win. You need to pick your spots.
Dan
Thanks for the much needed inspiration!
Dan
David Price
Building a business is part of the larger task of building a life. As we grow through these tasks our vision never stops widening so that we become more and more willing to serve. Those who remain mired in narrow self-interest, ego and greed will ultimately fail to grow a real life, which after all is our true work.
Jeff Walker
@David: you’re preaching to the choir! 🙂
Cait
Playing to win, here Jeff, by proceeding as if success is inevitable. Thanks for the boost!
Cardiff Howell
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Theodore Roosevelt 1910
Merry Christmas Jeff. Thanks for everything.
Cardiff Y. Howell “Jason”
Remember to be the Shephard.
Jeff Walker
Love that quote!! I just added it to my “favorite quotes” file. 🙂
Diane
Hard work, dedication, consistency, great people skills, being smart leads to success…I don’t believe luck plays a part.
Angel
This has been one of the most inspiring videos that I have watched of yours recently, and do you know why, Jeff?
Because Playing to Win is just a very simple, actionable decision that we can take every second of our lives. It is easy and everyone can do it, Play to Win, I love it.
When you talk about you losing your business, I am sure that your mind played many games with you, but you thrived, and you are WINNING.
Lets have inside of us this SPARK that will want us WIN the game that we are in every single time!
Thank you Jeff for your continuous inspiration and for helping me Change Humankind.
Cheers!
Sarah Tallman
I’m so glad you posted this video about your outlook on luck. I feel lucky to have found you and applied for two jobs on your website a few days ago. We might be able to help each other in a few different ways, so I look forward to talking with you soon!
Lillian
It is very inspired video. Excellent!
Paul
Thanks Jeff for reminding to always “play to win”.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Erica
Thank you! Experienced a failure this week and am trying to look at it in a positive light….I refuse to give up! This video was very timely for me. Thank you!
Dvorah Graeser
“Chance favors only the prepared mind” – Louis Pasteur. Your video really resonated with me for the same reason that this quote did – lucky breaks only help those who are prepared to seize the opportunity, and, as you put it, are “playing to win”.
Lara
It’s so true. I remember a few years ago, Jason Van Orden and Jeremy Frandsen did one of their podcasts on the mental attitude and said one of their turning points was going from Not Wanting to Lose to Wanting to Win. I’ve been working with that since I don’t want to be the deliminator. What I need to do is focus on winning at my own goals as you mentioned rather then trying to beat out everyone else.
Nata Bichevskaya
I agree with you, Jeff, on 1000%! Thank’s for your opinion! )
Lui-MLMforShyPeople.com
Great blog on luck. I especially liked the way “Simon Says” was used to illustrate a couple of lessons. Enter the game to win, and only a handful of people out of 3000 are your real competition! Thanks for all your help and guidance Jeff!
Kimberly Sumner
Jeff I loved this video, and for your continual doses of inspiration. I am writing NZ, and yet here your video is touching me on the other side of the world as I do my morning walk. Question – what video camera do you use when you do selfie videos at the top of your mountain? I’d much appreciate your guidance. With love, and a happy holiday season to you and your family, Kimberly
Joyce
Great message. Had to ask myself if I was playing to win?
Roman Miranda
Love it, this is so true. As a young online entrepreneur myself, I’ve noticed the single biggest thing that’s shown me results and where I’ve seen the most success is from mindset shifts. Changing my mindset to WIN is a huge advantage, and just like you said, it’s not 1/3000 it’s more like 1/60 when you start looking at it from that perspective.
Add actually taking the actions you need to be doing and I bet you it’s way less than 1/60 lol
Thanks Jeff! Love these videos 🙂
Chris
Love it, thanks Jeff… Makes me think of The Strangest Secret which I recently discovered. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYHbLS5s2Ks
Chris
Anyway, I just finished your book and am planning my first seed launch. So excited and I feel that this has huge potential for me… thanks in advance for the huge impact I know you will make in my life.
Will keep you posted!
Jeff Walker
That one’s a classic.
Anaiis Salles
One door closes and another door opens. Not a problem if you remain curious about life, and you keep your heart open. Merry Christmas!
Jude
YES!! Totally agree. Get clear, take action and you get in the flow.
Stanley Tan
Great video, Jeff. I agree with you on all points except 1. Competition.
In business, we are all out there to compete to have the better product than our competitors.
For an information product, the competition is much less because people can consume as much information as they one.
They can buy 1,000 motivation books and still keep buying them. Information is limitless.
On the other hand for software and hardware products, the competition is real and alive.
We aren’t going to buy 1 Apple phone, 1 Samsung phone, 1 Blackberry phone, etc. Most of us only need 1 phone.
Imagine if Apple doesn’t improve their product in 2 years, Samsung and the other phone companies will overtake them.
Microsoft isn’t partnering with Apple for an iOS. They are out there to take their customers.
Apple isn’t partnering with Samsung to reach more customers. They are out there to take their customers.
My point is for an info product, our customers can buy your partners product AND your product so it’s a win-win situation here.
In software and hardware products, we need to compete and working with partners can be a knife in the back or a benefit.
Aaron Koral
Jeff:
Thanks for sharing this video. Earlier this month, I celebrated my 46th birthday. When I took a moment to reflect on my life up to this point, I realize what a directionless mess I’ve been! Taking menial job after menial job, with absolutely nothing to show for my efforts! And I have a college degree, too!! I don’t blame others or fate for my circumstances; I only blame myself and the actions/decisions I’ve taken/made. The only thing which brings me comfort is that I keep trying, and searching, for that one idea which will bring a sense of relief, of joy, to my life. I want to do something meaningful & enjoyable, but I have no idea what that might be.
Your suggestion that those who are successful make the decision to “play the game” is very true. People make their own luck; I failed to make mine because I never seriously considered what success for me would look like. I never believed I could be successful at anything because of the number of failures I’ve had up to this point in my life. After watching your video, however, I need to decide that I can, and will, be successful. In what, I still don’t know, but I know that by playing the game, my efforts will be less directionless and more focused on what would make me happy by helping others and get paid for doing so!
Thanks again for this, really appreciated!
Mike
Thanks Jeff! I’ve been thinking about your video & “Simon Says” all day! Commitment, intention, all in & playing to win! I love it! Thanks again.
Vicki
Thank you for the inspiration. I have to remember to focus on I want to win. Love the Native American baskets by your fireplace
Tim
Thanks, Jeff!
Good luck/bad luck are merely labels we create in our own minds.
“Nothing has any meaning except the meaning I give it” – Tony Robbins
Merry Christmas!
Tim
Steven
Brilliant, Jeff! That might be the most impactful video I’ve watched all year.
I wouldn’t have been competing at Simon Says, either. The key it seems is to pick out what’s really important and make sure you compete there. Winning at Simon Says probably won’t help any of us reach our larger goals, but showing up in our business definitely will.
Chris Swanson
You’re right! In the Sheriffs Office I have a saying outside our roll call room, “Make it Happen!” Thank you – Swanson
Esther Einstein
Thanks for the amazing inspiration.
Tina Hunsaker
Thanks Jeff your the best!
Jeremiah Say
Thanks Jeff. Love your courses and books 🙂 Thanks for providing value to the marketplace.
Cloris Kylie
Thank you for this video, Jeff! I’ll always remember what Reid Tracy, CEO of Hay House Publishers once said to me, “It takes 10 years to become an overnight success.” So-called “luck’ is the result of hard work, dedication, and focus to see the opportunities that are all around us. Only the right attitude leads to “good luck.”
Brian
Jeff,
Great video with a very meaningful message. Grew my business for 7 years…80+ hour weeks, etc, etc then over night healthcare reform hit and poof. Needless to say had to re-work my entire business from the foundation up and now 2 years later we’re stronger and better than ever! Many tough lessons learned & sleepless nights over these past 2 years, but I am definitely stronger and smarter for it and will use these life / business lessons going forward! Great story about Simon says…I attended Tony’s DWD and forgot about that. I’m in the process of starting up another business after attending your past PLF Live in Phoenix…. great experience BTW….GREAT! I met many countless awesome people, but have remained in contact with 2 great guys and we have a mastermind group formed to hold each other accountable and to bounce ideas off each other. Needless to say….pure AWESOMESAUCE!!!
Tyrone Wilson
Thanks Jeff. Just getting started. Nervous and excited at the same time. Ready to go…
Daryl
Dear Jeff, I always enjoy your videos because there’s nothing artificial about you and it’s clear you really want to help others achieve their goals and build their own version of success. Your words remind me that I’m not going to achieve anything by talking about my fears, lack of confidence, lack of money to start or any of the excuses I give for not moving forward. Being successful does require commitment above all else and then being willing to do the work. Being accountable and committed are really what I’m most afraid of, not failing after I do all the work. Thank you for consistently reminding us of the basics. Merry Christmas and a most HAPPY New Year!
Jody
So, I think that everyone has opportunities going past them at all times. Sometimes we see one and think it is the only/best one, when, if we had watched for a moment, we’d have seen several other things go by as well, available for the one who sees it and grabs it. Sometimes luck is a flash in the pan that favors the quick-witted or sometimes someone whose gift is vouchsafed in heaven, and often it is the seizing of an opportunity that took a lot of work to be prepared for. But most of all, luck is about showing up and having a claim. Thank you for provoking this train of thought.
Hugh Culver
Great one Jeff. Such a good message as we wrap up one year and jump into the next one. Thanks for this and all you do. Best wishes for the New Year.
Joanna Free
Luck?
Maybe…
though privilege for sure.
You have it. I have it, too.
We are incredibly fortunate to have the freedom, the education, the opportunities that have come to us.
All of which led to the chance to even sit in a room where a question like that could be asked, and answered in a way that facilitates the growth of everyone in that room. The chance to ponder what it could mean to play to win.
I am ever-mindful of how I have opportunities – as the result of all of this and more – that others could not even dream, because they have no foundation like the one we have to dream from.
So, just some thoughts on luck, and choice, and what we do with all of it…
OK, back to work – I mean play – here.. and playing to win!
Thanks, Jeff, for the ways you use your choices.
– Joanna
Rennie
What a great perspective. I am not competing against everyone in my industry, only the few, like myself, who are playing to win.
Sundara Fawn
Great perspective Jeff – Thanks! In understanding the universal law of cause & effect, there is in reality no such thing as luck. Everything in creation is energy and energy acts according to its nature. So, in essence, we create everything that happens in our life. I believe the bigger we become, the more we personally win in life. If we remain “creative” instead of “competitive” we all naturally win together! Congratulations on creating such a wonderful empire!
Dan R Klatt
Thanks Jeff,
Important to remember that we are the driver behind our own success.
Helle Buttrup
Thanks for that. It gives me even more courage, cause i have a super competitive gene and always play to win. Shared your video with me community, so goooood.
Dafna Elia
Yes you are right. It’s about a decision. And I play to win! There will be obstacles but I’m going to pass them and succeed.
Kris O'Connor
What a great message! My son always tells me he is the “most unlucky Irishman around”. I have always tried to encourage him to change that thought process to “I am the Luckiest Irishman around!” We do create our own “luck” and when you have a failure… to be able to pick yourself up and dust yourself off and move forward can be very rewarding as you found out. Now if I could only help my son see the same…I will be sharing this message with him. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2016! Thank you 🙂
Kandace
Thank you for an inspiring video. It is always great to hear other peoples journeys and know that sometimes we “win” and sometimes we don’t. But we have to play to win. Play to succeed. We have to see our vision and go after it with everything we got and a mindset to win.
Vincent Bellitto
Love the video content and love the shot! I am reminded of the saying, “Opportunity comes to those who prepare for it.”
Oh, yeah, I also felt my nerves zing when you put the iPad on the rail!
Kerryn Wayow
Thanks Jeff,
Your videos are always filled with great insight and wisdom, so a BIG THANK YOU! I am glad that I ran into your site (lucky???), when I decided to make my business successful, and you are helping with all the inspirational messages.
Jennifer
Hi Jeff,
Great blog today. I actually don’t believe in luck. I believe there are no accidents and that you can’t attract that which you are not. Therefore, when what looks like ‘lucky’ breaks come up, is actually the universe aligning what is the fastest to path to what you want based on where you are.
That’s why I love your last point… Are you playing to win?
In my business I have made conscious choices throughout the years and there are two times where I specifically made a conscious choice to grow. Then, I got really ‘lucky’ as a result of a lot of hard work, dedication and focus because I was and still am playing to win.
Great reminder of the power of focus.
Thanks so much for all you do.
Jennifer
PS Merry Christmas to you and yours!
teresa
Great Video! There are indeed all kinds of Luck, and everyone has his or her share of different luck. The truly successful, by any measure, neither wholly depend on that Good variety nor do they lose hope when encountering the Less Desirable type. Successful people are resilient and resourceful…luck is the sweet dessert after a well prepared meal. Thank you, very Inspiring video!! Play On!
p
You sound like Vince Lombardi! You are always encouraging and that means a lot.