With St. Patrick’s Day coming up, and my last name being Sullivan, I’ve been thinking recently about that phrase, “The luck of the Irish.” Just what is luck? We probably all know someone who wins the door prize at every gathering, or who comes away from a casino ahead of the game, financially. But luck in the world of business? I’m skeptical.
I prefer to quote Oprah Winfrey, who said, “I believe luck is preparation meeting opportunity. If you hadn’t been prepared when the opportunity came along, you wouldn’t have been lucky.” Her statement echoed the “preparation meeting opportunity” definition of luck that the Roman philosopher Seneca expressed many centuries ago.
While not denying that being in the right place at the right time with just the right skills and knowledge is a form of luck, I think that, more often, luck is the result of hard work, creative thinking, and strategy.
Some might say that I have had “the luck of the Irish” in building a career that has been interesting and fulfilling. But I have worked hard to develop my skills and abilities so that I was ready to succeed when presented with opportunities. My hard work and preparation have paid off, as I’ve consistently excelled professionally.
If you are lucky enough to have time to devote to a cause or nonprofit organization, that “preparation meets opportunity” formula for success holds true. I learned that when creating my own nonprofit, Hunt for Brighter Skies, which sought to provide employment assistance for young people emerging from the foster care system. Fortunately – “luckily” – I had learned in my work with Guardian ad Litem and other organizations that you can’t just get behind a worthy cause and hope to make it successful. You have to do the hard work of raising awareness, assembling resources, and honing your pitch to potential donors and grantors.
I believe that my success has been the result of a lot of hard work and dedication to developing my skills so that I overcome any challenges rather than “the luck of the Irish”. But I’ll still keep my eyes out for a four-leafed clover.
Website: https://luminasolutions.com/
