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Enhance Your Luck

By
Commercial Real Estate Agent

By Jon Gordon

"Do you feel lucky?" It's not just one of my favorite Clint Eastwood quotes, it's also an important question each one of us should ask ourselves. Turns out luck, like much in life, has a lot to do with our beliefs and the energy and attitude we project. The luckier we feel and believe we are, the luckier we are.

A great article in Men's Health Magazine by Matthew Teague, which features the latest research from British psychologist Richard Wiseman, author of the Luck Factor, explains that there is a lot more to luck than coincidence or chance. In fact, there are reasons why some people are luckier than others and there are ways each one of us can enhance our luck - right now - today.

So before you play Lotto or walk into your big sales meeting read these tips, based on Wiseman's research, to enhance your luck. 

Make the Most of Random Opportunities - Strike up conversations with strangers. Be open to meeting new people. Ask people where they are from. When you are on an airplane or bus, talk to the people next to you. I often do this and it's amazing how many wonderful relationships that have developed as a result. I met my wife as she was walking by my restaurant 14 years ago. I took a chance by saying hello and it was the best decision I ever made. Pay attention, be aware and open to new possibilities.

Act on Lucky Hunches - Trust your gut and your heart. Never ignore your intuition. We all have heard stories of people who avoided an accident or a dangerous situation because of a gut feeling. Lucky people also use their gut to make business decisions, purchase a home, pick a husband or spouse and choose a school. Unlucky people ignore their gut. Lucky people follow it. Trusting your gut is trusting in God's voice that whispers in your ear.

Expect Good Fortune - Lucky people expect positive results and so that is what they get. It boils down to the power of belief. So much of luck and success is believing that good things are going to happen. What we put our attention on starts to show up more in our life. Lucky people expect that great things will happen when they talk to a stranger. They expect to find a quarter on the ground. They expect to find a parking space. They expect their clients to say "Yes." They expect tomorrow to be even better than today. And by expecting success lucky people attract more of it.

Turn Bad Luck into Good - Lucky people turn misfortune into fortune. They believe that everything happens for a reason and expect good things to come out of their negative experiences. They turn obstacles and adversities into growth and learning opportunities and use bad luck to make positive changes. Lucky people experience hardships and adversity like everyone else but they turn dead ends into detours and bad experiences into good outcomes.

Jon Gordon is a speaker, consultant and author of several books including the recently released The No Complaining Rule: Positive Ways to deal with Negativity at Work and the international best seller The Energy Bus: 10 Rules to Fuel your Life, Work and Team with Positive Energy which has captured the hearts of readers world-wide. Jon's proven solutions are being put to use by people and organizations worldwide and his tips have been featured on CNN, the NBC Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes, and more.

Learn more and sign up for Jon's free weekly Positive Tip newsletter at www.jongordon.com
(Reprinted with Permission © Copyright 2008 The Jon Gordon Companies)

Do you believe in luck? What does luck mean to you?
Share your thoughts below!!

Go get em!

Jason Tucker | Associate Director

Newmark Knight Frank, Inc.
34975 W. Twelve Mile Road | Farmington Hills, MI 48331
Phone: 248-848-4084 | Fax: 248-848-9041 | Cell: 248-431-8138
e-mail: jtucker@newmarkkf.com | Website: www.newmarkkf.com

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Associate Broker Falmouth MA Cape Cod Heath Coker
https://teamcoker.robertpaul.com - Falmouth, MA
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The word luck actually derives from the middle english expression "good lucifer" (good luck) which is like the french "bon chance".  Both were statements encouraging a reliance on chance. 

Dec 02, 2008 05:01 AM
Dean Akey
Saint Charles, IL

I am very superstitious and always go with my gut or hunch.  I also believe that good things happen to good people so every day I practice random acts of kindness.  Sometimes it doesnt always work out but I still feel great about helping other folks.  Great post.

Dec 02, 2008 05:04 AM
Ken Tracy
Coldwell Banker Residential - Naperville, IL
Helping clients buy and sell since 2005

Hi Jason. 

I have always felt very lucky.  In life, at the casino, wherever.

Things just seem to work out for me.

I expect to come out on top.

I think some focus on bad happenings, while those of us who are "lucky" ignore those and keep moving.

Thanks for writing,

Ken

Dec 02, 2008 05:12 AM
Marjorie Taylor
Florida Homes Realty and Mortgage - Saint Augustine, FL
New Homes in St. Augustine Florida

I love Jon Gordon!  He was one of the keynote speakers at the NAR conference last month at the WCR hotel.

I have read his books and subscribe to his newsletter.  Thanks for sharing his latest newsletter, exposing his positive attitude to our members.

Dec 02, 2008 05:49 AM
Richard Dolbeare
Inactive - Wailuku, HI
Living the Hawaii Lifestyle

I'm not very good at self-assessment so when others have asked me the secret to my success, I've often responded that I've just had good luck. 

Dec 02, 2008 06:02 AM
Ilyce Glink
Think Glink Media - Chicago, IL
Best-selling author, award-winning TV/radio host.

Jason- Great post! I used to think of luck as a coincidence that just happened to some people and not others, but I've realized over time that you can make your own luck!

Dec 02, 2008 06:50 AM
Jason Tucker
Richmond, VA

Such an interesting topic!  It seems that there is another school of thought on this one - where some define luck as when "preparation meets opportunity".  Thanks for the comments everybody!

Dec 02, 2008 08:46 AM