I’m headed off on a pretty important business trip with a lot riding on it. On my way out the door I do the usual kiss and hug with my wife and daughter. My wife then usually wishes me luck and a safe flight, I jump in the Uber car and take off for the airport. However, this time I didn’t hear her say the “good luck” part so I stopped and said “what, no good luck wish this time?” She told me she had already wished me luck but I must have missed it so she said it again and I was on my way. It got me thinking though, why was I so insistent she wish me luck? I guess it just makes me feel better. The problem is, I don’t believe in luck. It actually pisses me off when people call me lucky.

In my experience, you make your own luck based on working your ass off and taking chances. The harder I work the “luckier” I seem to get. So, if you want to define luck that way then sure, call me lucky. However, pure luck is crap. I test out the pure luck theory all the time for myself by buying a $20 scratch ticket once a month. I’ve haven’t won a dollar on any of them since I started doing it over 5 years ago. I lose all the time when I play Roulette (by the way, I’m on my way to Vegas right now to test the theory again). Pure luck is something I have rarely experienced in my life and therefore don’t believe in.

Instead of being lucky, I consider myself fortunate. Fortunate to be born to loving parents who provided for me and encouraged me. Fortunate to have met a strong woman I love and have a healthy child with. Fortunate to be presented with interesting opportunities throughout my life and career that I’ve been able to take advantage of and learn from. I am truly thankful for everything I have had the good fortunate of experiencing but to label them as luck diminishes their value along with what I have been able to achieve because of them.

If you believe in luck then you believe in bad luck too which is an excuse for failure all too often. If you don’t believe in luck then you take more control over your future and realize it’s up to you to make it happen. Make it happen.

Now excuse me while I hit the tables and let it all ride on 25 black. Wish me luck ;).