Most of us grew up believing that if you are good you don’t need luck. Believing this will make you work hard to get what you want, but what happens when you don’t get it? When someone less qualified gets the job?
Luck plays a big role in our life, we depend on the economy, politics, nature, and uncountable external factors. Max Gunther was well aware of this fact. He studied why people are luckier than others, he focused on what “lucky” people did differently. How to Get Lucky: 13 techniques for discovering and taking advantage of life’s good breaks presents 13 techniques that enable people to position themselves to experience good luck. It’s important to clarify that we are not talking about people who won the lottery. Gunther’s luck refers to living your dream life as the result of your efforts.
Most successful people were not only good but also lucky. They were in the right place at the right time, they knew somebody who knew somebody. Gunther’s techniques can help you be in the right place at the right time. This article presents a short summary of each of these techniques.
1. Making the Luck/Planning Distinction
We tend to forget that we don’t control everything that happens to us. The people we meet, opportunities that arise, accidents, the weather. To achieve a desired outcome many things out our control need to happen. Distinguishing between luck and planning means knowing how much is under your control and what is up to randomness.
“When a loser loses, it’s because his luck was bad. When he wins, it’s because he was smart.”
For example: getting from your apartment to the office depends mostly on you waking up on time. Nonetheless, unforeseeable events can keep you from arriving on time (traffic accidents, heavy weather, or running into an old friend). Other activities in life are more influenced by luck, such as getting your dream job or choosing the right spouse. We live in a complex and unpredictable world, the first step for improving your luck is to recognize that it exists. Be humble when you win and dont be hard on yourself when you lose. Observe what happened, what you could have done better and how external factors affected the outcome.
2. Finding the fast flow
You can’t expect to get a lucky break if you stay all day in your room. To get what you want you have to tell the world what you want. Go to places where things are happening, be curious, be interested in people. When you meet someone ask them about what they do, what they like, their goals, and so on. Tell them about your interests, projects and goals, they might know someone who could help you. Volunteer for causes you care about, start a blog about the topics you like.
3. Risk Spooning
If you don’t take risks there’s nothing luck can do for you. Good luck is about getting a favorable outcome in an uncertain situation. You can be a loser by taking goofy risks or by not taking risks at all.
4. Run Cutting
Lucky streaks won’t last forever. Recognize when you are having a lucky streak (distinguishing between luck and planning) and cash out before it’s over. Don’t fool yourself thinking you have it all figured out, you will end up losing everything before you know it. Sometimes you would have won more, most times it will save you from losing it all.
5. Luck Selection
You are free to change paths whenever you feel like it. Sometimes what seemed as a great idea doesn’t work out when implemented, dont’ fall in love with the idea. People usually struggle to change theirs paths because this they were wrong. It is ok to be wrong, what’s not ok is to stay on a sinking ship. This applies to jobs, relationships, starting a business, investments, and so on.
6. The Zigzag Path
It’s impossible to predict what will happen to you in the next years, so don’t take long term plans seriously. Use them as a guide of where you want to be in the future. Make sure to leave space for unforeseen opportunities (new business venture out of your area of expertise, exploiting a recently discovered talent, etc.), take advantage of serendipity. As Tim Ferriss has said several times in his podcast: “treat your life as a series of two-week experiments”. Test your assumptions in the real world, if it feels right carry on, if not pivot to something else.
Avoid labeling yourself or being too rigid. Be willing to explore outside your area of expertise. Don’t let your career or past actions define who you are.
7. Constructive Supernaturalism
The author refers to supernaturalism as any belief in an unseen spirit, force or agency whose existence has not been proved to everybody’s satisfaction. Often times no decision at all is the worst choice. Supernaturalism (lucky numbers, omens, etc.) can help you take the leap of faith that will get you into a position to win. Use superstition in your favor, be rational when it doesn’t. Who cares if the planets aligned or it’s only in your mind as long as it gives you the confidence to take action.
8. Worst Case Analysis
As discussed before good luck involves taking risks, but it doesn’t mean being a fool. In order to avoid bad luck you need to know how to handle the worst case scenario. Figure out what’s the worst that could happen, and think how to protect yourself from these outcomes. Written agreements, saving money, getting insurance are example of how you can protect from the worst case scenario.
9. The Closed Mouth
Lucky people are careful of what they say and to whom they say it. They don’t take strong positions on controversial topics if they can avoid it. Too much talk can constrict your choices. Remember that you will need to change on the go to take advantage of randomness.
10. Recognizing a Non-Lesson
Do not generalize or create theories out of random events. “Red always wins” is a non-lesson. If you had several bad dating experiences doesn’t mean all men or women are undateable. It only means you had bad luck, or need to improve how you choose people. Be wary of these fallacies, don’t let them guide your decisions.
11. Accepting an Unfair Universe
“The fact is that fairness is a human concept. The rest of the universe knows nothing of it.”
Kids get terminal diseases, good people will be unlucky and the bad guys will have good luck. Happy endings are not the norm in real life. Never expect that something will happen because you deserve it. We will experience bad luck regardless of our hard work or good intentions, remember how little is under your control. Accepting an unfair universe will prevent you from anger, self-torture or giving up.
12. The Juggling Act
Juggle as many ventures as you can handle, one of them could be the gateway to your lucky break. Avoid idleness, follow your curiosity and let it guide you. Engage in projects you like and pivot until you get your lucky break.
13. Destiny Pairing
There are people that can change the course of your life and nature of your luck. Destiny pairs cause an explosion of good luck when they work together. Some people are average by themselves, but incredible in the company of the right partner. This partner could be a spouse, business partner, colleague or friend. Meeting your destiny partner happens by chance, so keep in the fast flow and pay attention to your gut. Your destiny pair will elicit a quick, strong and positive reaction; good things will happen the moment you join your destiny pair.
Wrap up
Gunther observed that lucky people don’t get discouraged when they experience bad luck and are humble when they got lucky. They are always meeting new people and exploring new ideas or projects. Lucky people are flexible and intuitive. They make lemonade when they get lemons, throw a party when they get rum, and jump into promising opportunities when they appear. They keep close to them people that bring magic into their life. Lucky people take risks and protect against the worst case scenario. They are aware that the universe has no concern not about them, so they don’t play victim when things don’t work out.
Whether you believe in luck or not, you should test some of these techniques. As I see it, this book provides a playbook for positioning yourself where the magic happens.
