WHAT’S LUCK GOT TO DO WITH IT?
FIVE TRAITS OF LUCKY PEOPLE
March, the
month of four-leaf clovers and little green leprechauns, is right around the
corner, bringing visions of green beer and that pot of gold at the end of the
rainbow. We are all Irish on St. Patrick’s Day, and we all hope to be showered
with that famous luck of the Irish.
The
word luck, beaten and bastardized, gets tossed around like a day-old doughnut
whenever Indie authors discuss success (or lack thereof) of their book sales.
The
first time I ran a KDP free book promotion, and placed my suspense eBook, She’s Not There, free on Amazon.com, I
only had 8,202 downloads at the end of my two days. This result was
disappointing compared to those of an author friend, who had 26, 000 using the
same promotion. When I asked her about it, she said that her huge number of downloads
were a matter of luck. A popular eBook site noticed her
promotion and highlighted it for their readers. I know firsthand that her
success is not all due to luck. She is a devoted marketer and spends every
available moment working to maintain her book’s sales momentum. Me, I’m
addicted to things like playing bridge, reading, and watching soap operas; my
marketing ethic is not nearly as fierce!
Here
is a universal truth:
I know you don’t want to hear that. We would all prefer to cling to magical thinking: I’ll get rich when I win the lottery, the perfect man will come knocking at my door, a stroke of fate will send my book sales through the roof.
I know you don’t want to hear that. We would all prefer to cling to magical thinking: I’ll get rich when I win the lottery, the perfect man will come knocking at my door, a stroke of fate will send my book sales through the roof.
It
ain’t gonna happen!
Secrets of Lucky People
1. They believe they will be
successful.
Research shows that if you believer you’ll succeed, your odds of
hitting a lucky streak go up. There is no magic involved—expectancy is a real
driver of results. Expecting something as opposed to wanting or hoping for it,
will affect your decision–making and you’ll put in more of an effort than you
normally would have. Find ways to stay positive and expect success—it works!
2. They Notice What Others Miss.
Lucky people are more open to random opportunities. They notice chance situations and act on
them. They are flexible in their thinking, and it’s that relaxed, open attitude
that allows them to see what others don’t.
Keep your eyes open for opportunities—they’re out there!
3. They Say “Yes”
Lucky people do not remain passive. Instead, they seize opportunities
as they come without endless second-guessing.
When chance encounters occur, don’t over-think them, act on them!
4. They Switch Things Up
Lucky people increase their
chances of getting opportunities by meeting new people and trying new things.
Luck won’t come looking for you or call on you on your Smartphone.
The more you put yourself out there, and try new things, the more
likely it is you will find luck.
5. They Practice Bouncing Back
Lucky people don’t let one failure sidetrack their road to success. When
you let a bad break get you down, you close the door on new situations that
could lead to a lucky break. Closely linked to the first trait, expecting the
best, bouncing back means you will have a greater chance of success with each
failure, because you’ll be trying more often.
Regard every bad break as an opportunity to find the right course for
you!
Dear Readers,
So
many of us, myself included, wait for that magical break that will mean success
for our writing. But magical thinking delays success. Practice these habits of
lucky people and reap the rewards.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day,
Marla
Note: I seldom repeat a blog, but this one on luck has been so
popular that I repeat it every March when the luck of the Irish is on our minds.
