Being lucky can mean anything from finding a dollar on the ground to getting your dream job.
Here’s how to use that to your advantage and create your own “luck”.
You bring events together to form “happy accidents”.
This favors people who try lots of new things, since they have more attempts.
Think about a scientist in a lab, furiously conducting different experiments.
Leave Some Room in Your Life for Serendipity
Serendipity is the key ingredient behind luck.
You might juggle work, exercise, and your social life every day.
Asblogger Michael Hyatt writes, “Margin is not something that just happens.
You have to fight for it.”
Break Your Routines Occasionally
We gravitate towards our routines and habits.
And there’s no doubt that they can improve your productivity.
However, to become lucky, it helps to break your routines every so often.
Getting out of your routine means new experiences.
You may find that you need tobreak out of your comfort zone to get lucky.
In contrast, many lucky people venture to introduce variety into their lives.
This kind of behaviour boosts the likelihood of chance opportunities by introducing variety.
Talk to new people at a party.
Pick up an unfamiliar magazine.
Try a new grocery store or restaurant.
If you have the day off, get out of your pajamas and outside of the house.
Err on the side of exploring andliving in the moment.
For example, successful artists all run into writer’s block just like amateurs do.
They know and implementdifferent routines to get around it.
Breaking routines exposes you to new opportunities and better timing.
Both elements are crucial to experiencing serendipity’s positive outcomes.
Invite Randomness by Taking More Little Risks
Two variables determine how purposeful your bet is.
This is something you control.
The second variable captures serendipity.
you’re free to expand this beyond Newport’s suggestion to create asteady stream of side projects.
After all, that’s the only factor you might control.
Johansson makes time for coffee conversations with no agenda,no matter how busy he is.
If you want to get luckier in love,make more small talk with strangers.
Try social events you might find unusual.
Tryswitching your rest timesor an entirely new workout plan.
Makesmall diet changesto see if it influences your performance.
But you also might find that the change works wonders for you.
When in doubt, follow your instincts when you’re placing a bet.
Johansson says in aninterview with Fast Company:
So the question is, what can you apply?
What is the metric to use?
Passion helps you figure out how many bites of the apple you’re willing to take.
Your personal quirks and passions might lead you to the outcomes you like.
Recall that Fleming’s passion for swimming and water polo brought him to where he needed.
Jobs’s passion for typography led to the beautiful computer fonts everyone loved.
Luck favors you when you make room for it.
Create a more flexible schedule to allow yourself greater room for serendipity.
Break out of your comfort zone and routines.
Schedule randomness into your life.
Photos byOpenClips,Nemo,Ho Yeow Hui,JD Hancock,MattysFlicks,Gary Millar, andDavid Goehring.
