WHAT’S LUCK GOT TO DO WITH IT?

FIVE TRAITS OF LUCKY PEOPLE

 

  

March is the month of four-leaf clovers, little green leprechauns, green beer, and the 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 friend, who had 26,000 for her book using the same promotion.

When I asked her about it, she said that her success was a matter of luck, due the fact that 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 books’ 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:

Luck is more likely to happen to those who go after it.

No one wants 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.

a.    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.

b.    Keep your eyes open for opportunities—they’re out there!

3.    They Say “Yes”

a.    Lucky people do not remain passive. Instead, they seize opportunities as they come without endless second-guessing.

b.    When chance encounters occur, don’t over-think them, act on them!

4.    They Switch Things Up

a.     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 you on your Smartphone.

b.    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 

a.     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.

b.    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 everyone's thinking bout the luck of the Irish.