topic Re: How much does luck have to do with success? in Community Chat

How much does luck have to do with success?

LilacTree — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:10:34 GMT

Being in the right place at the right time, that’s luck . . . However, what one does after that varies. I took advantage of my right place, right time and was successful. Did you?

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

suzyQ3 — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:13:55 GMT

To answer the question that is in your subject line (as opposed to your first post), I will say that luck has far more weight than successful people would like to admit.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

haddon9 — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:15:35 GMT

@suzyQ3 wrote:
To answer the question that is in your subject line (as opposed to your first post), I will say that luck has far more weight than successful people would like to admit.

So very true!

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

bathina — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:16:56 GMT

99.9% luck. Where you are born and who you are born to make all the difference in the world. Literally. And we have no control over those two factors.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

esmerelda — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:30:24 GMT

@bathina you have to be kidding. No doubt you’ve heard of families that were successful in business and their child wanted nothing to do with the business they built and would gladly hand off to them if they were interested. They’re just happy to live off the money generated by the business as long as it lasts.

There’s a well-known saying. I can’t remember who said it at the moment, but it goes like this… I find that the harder, I work the luckier I am. It may not be universally true; but I think regardless of where you were born if you don’t exert some effort, you will not have success.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

Barbara-QVC — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:32:15 GMT

This post has been removed by QVC because it is going off topic.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

QVCkitty1 — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:34:29 GMT

This makes me think of the saying, " he was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple." It's not always the case, but as another poster said , more often then they would admit.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

phoenixbrd — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 23:05:00 GMT

My answer would be different if I answer this on an esoteric level rather than a superficial level. On the face of it, I agree with @haddon9 and @suzyQ3 . There are plenty of people that are frequently more prepared and more talented than one that "happens" to be in the right spot at the right time. So luck can be critical. But there are other factors besides luck: motivation, drive, social skills, health, education, perspective, connections, etc. that can facilitate success.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

LilacTree — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:35:43 GMT

@esmerelda

I agree. I had to fight like hell to get where I ended up in the workplace . . . 40 years!! That didn’t make me very popular some of the time . . . But I am now 81 and still supporting myself!

AstheRe: How much does luck have to do with success?

masque — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:37:10 GMT

As the old saying goes --- Different strokes for different folks --

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

stevieb — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:38:27 GMT

Hard work is surely important, but I agree, the luck of the draw is a bigger factor in what makes or breaks it for most people.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

Trinity11 — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:41:54 GMT

I think it depends on your meaning of success. Some think having a lot of money spells success and others may think having a family and great kids makes for success. Others may think early retirement and getting to do what you wish with your time after a certain age makes you a success. Just too many variables to answer with clarity.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

Sooner — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:43:44 GMT

That's a pointless question. The answer varies for every human on the planet. My answer is you will never have any luck if you don't make most of it. Don't sit around and whine and be a victim and wait for your luck to change or your ship to come in.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

GCR18 — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:46:41 GMT

I think luck plays a huge role. If the person though doesn't have what it takes, their success may be limited or short lived.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

VegasBusinessWoman — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:47:00 GMT

Just an observation from an old lady who has been around the block and seen more than most: People born into privilege tend to downplay that "head start" in life and attribute their success to their own "hard work." I say this as a person who was not born into money, social status or anything other than motivation. I watched the people who had a leg up (or two) around me as I sought out advanced education and learned how to move up. I was lucky enough to find mentors who helped me succeed. That's how I managed to do well; I got help to make up for the lack of being born into the benefits that contribute to the likelihood of success.

Rather than patting myself on the back for my hard work, I'm thankful to all the people who saw my motivation and preparation and lent me a hand. It might not have happened without them.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

ILTH — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:57:18 GMT

@LilacTree wrote:
@esmerelda
I agree. I had to fight like hell to get where I ended up in the workplace . . . 40 years!! That didn’t make me very popular some of the time . . . But I am now 81 and still supporting myself!

Aren't you kind of supporting the luck does lead to success side?

People who are lucky don't have to work like hell to get where they ended up. Less effort, more luck.

Nothing beats knowing the right people. Of course, cozying up to these people can be a lot of effort. But, the payoff is big.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

libbyannE — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 18:58:20 GMT

Yes, some of us were “lucky” with great families, super educations, etc., but we also created a lot of our own “opportunities” and “luck”—vs. simply being in the right place at the right time. So, it’s both. I always say I was soooo lucky to have the parents and background that I had, but my husband and I in our individual careers worked long days and often six-day weeks, and we saved and invested for decades. Some did not and regret it now. Were we lucky or smart? Both, I would say.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

AuntG — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 19:02:28 GMT

Probably should have done more with my education, but I've never carried a lot of debt and I'm quite happy. So much comes down to good decision making, and I've been successful at that.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

bikerbabe — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 19:07:56 GMT

Success is not defined by money.

Re: How much does luck have to do with success?

MorningLover — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 19:11:00 GMT

“People often remark that I’m pretty lucky. Luck is only important in so far as getting the chance to sell yourself at the right moment. After that, you’ve got to have talent and know how to use it” – Frank Sinatra