Photo by Artotem

We’re all eager to hear about the business that landed the big client, the CEO who just wound up on the cover of the newspaper, the startup that attracted lots of venture capital funding, or the video that’s attracted over 1,000,000 views in the last week. It’s seductive. It’s humbling. And it causes a lot of soul-searching (“What do they have that we don’t?”). Why do some businesses have all the luck?

Step 1: Get Ready For Luck. Even if the most amazing opportunity fell into you lap today, odds are, you’re not ready for it. For example, are all your marketing materials up-to-date? Have you been studying all the new innovations in your field? Have you been studying innovations in other non-related fields? Are you confident in your presentation and knowledge? If not, do your homework now. You never know when you’ll need to shine.

Step 2: Listen for Luck. Opportunities present themselves all the time – a casual conversation, a Facebook discussion, or even while watching a TV show. If you think you have something interesting to add, do so generously. Don’t try to show how smart you are. Do try to help someone else look smarter. Also, insert yourself in new environments that “stretch” your confidence. If you do the same things with the same people in the same ways, you’ll get the same results. Do something new or do something with new groups of people.

Step 3: Jump on Luck. Since luck is only seen in hindsight (“If I only knew then…”), don’t think of the immediate benefit to acting on something. A relationship may take time to blossom. A suggestion may take time to implement. Your luck may come not from the person you’re helping – it may be from someone overhearing what you’re saying or witnessing your passion. In public, you never know who’s paying attention to you.

The truth is that it often takes years of practice to become an “overnight sensation”. To boost your luck – practice, listen, and jump on opportunity.