” I’m a great believer in luck, and I find the harder I work the more I have of it.”

– Thomas Jefferson

Everyone wants good luck. Who would object to that all desirable lucky break? Unfortunately, too many people wait passively for luck to find them. They are hopeful their ship will come in. In their mind is the prospect that at some point their luck has to change.

Luck is much more than winning the lottery or hitting the big score at a casino. Of course, people win jackpots, but they are few and far between.

For every big winner there are millions more who lose money. The odds of winning the typical state lottery are 18 million to one. The odds of getting hit by lightning are approximately 3 million to 1. So, you have a much better chance of getting hit by lightning than winning a lottery.

Looking at luck in these terms is rather discouraging. Yet, to lots of people, this is their perception of luck. No wonder they get disheartened by the notion that luck seems to happen only to other people.

Luck regularly occurs when attitude and preparation meet opportunity. It doesn’t matter how often opportunity knocks at your door if you don’t recognize it, don’t believe it, or are not ready to take advantage of it.

People who have the most luck are those who are proactive participants in their lives.

Gambling aside, lucky people aren’t just lucky. Lucky people share similar character traits. They have a very positive attitude, believe good things will happen, are always on the lookout for opportunity, are hard workers, always look for, and find, solutions, and tend to be happy.

Successful people are often thought of as being lucky. However, since successful people only get noticed once they have succeeded, most people aren’t aware of all the hard work and preparation that had to take place first.

Lucky people are ready, willing, and able to adjust their thinking as needed. They don’t get stuck in a mental rut. What others may see as adversity, lucky people view as opportunity. A surprising number of products that are an integral part of daily life were discovered by accident.

They are perfect examples of what happens when attitude and preparation meet opportunity.

All of the following were accidental discoveries: the popsicle, Velcro, superglue, post it notes, scotch guard, safety glass, cellophane, vulcanized rubber, penicillin, Teflon, and microwaves. You have to wonder how many potential breakthroughs might have been missed because of bad attitudes or a lack of preparation.

As these discoveries illustrate, whether luck is good or bad depends on one’s outlook. Something that may initially appear to be misfortune may actually be a gift.

So, if you walk around telling yourself you never have any good luck, you won’t. Instead, change your perspective to recognize that things often happen for a reason. The challenge is to discover what that reason is.

Here is how you can improve your luck. Decide what your goals are. Believe that you will attract all that you need and want. Understand that you are surrounded by opportunity. Recognize that there is a solution for every problem. Be willing to alter your perspective in order to discover hidden opportunities. Always keep learning. Acquire as much knowledge as possible about how to attain your goals. Take action. Adjust your course as needed.

Regardless of where you are now, you can turn your luck around. Luck is not something that happens to you. It’s something you create.

NOW AVAILABLE: “Dare to Live Without Limits,” the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper. Ó 2025 Bryan Golden