How to Get Lucky and Win at Life!

Luck is your friend. It can take you to places you've never been before, allow you to live your dreams, and put the right person in your life at the right time. Luck is all around us at any given time. All you need to do is learn to identify it and snatch it. Luck's other name is opportunity, and believe or not, great opportunities are not scarce. It comes readily to those who desperately want it and seek it.I'm going to illustrate through a story and a few actionable steps how you can "Get Lucky and Win at Life!"

=====================================STORY: The Relentless Photographer=====================================

One of my good friends is a fashion photographer in NYC. He's been there for about two years, and has shot for all of the big modeling agencies there. His worked has appeared in numerous magazines domestic and abroad. Recently, he was in GQ and Fashion Magazine. Pretty good for a guy who literally only started fashion photography two years ago. Does he have natural talent? Of course he does.

He was a graphic design major who had great aesthetics and good taste before he even touched a camera, but his biggest asset wasn't his talent. It was his relentless determination.Before he moved to New York City, he emailed, snail mailed, and cold-called literally hundreds of photographers, agencies, and studios. He had no contacts going in, but he was sure that somebody out of all the people he contacted would be able to help him get a foot in the door. He was able to do what many talented photographers aren't willing to do or was afraid to do, and it paid off handsomely.Recently, he told me that he's been pitching an idea for a photoshoot to close to 22 different magazines. No takers yet, but he's going to keep trying because he believes in the idea. How many of us would give up at 3? Maybe 4 magazines? Not him. He's going to keep going until someone says "yes!"And that's how you win at life:If you take a few steps further than everyone else is willing to take, you're going to stand out.  People will hire you, pursue you, and will want to work with you because they actually NOTICE you!  Everyone is busy these days, and their attention span is short, and if you don't stand out from the crowd, they're not going to seek you out.UPDATE:  My friend just contacted me and said that a magazine did pick up the concept, and they just shot it.  Wow!  Persistence pays off.

=====================================ACTION STEPS on "How to Get Lucky"=====================================

These actionable steps are for me too, trust me.  Sometimes I feel like I write posts like these to remind myself not to be such a darn coward about things and just go do it!

Step 1)  Take action.  

Whatever you want to be lucky in, don't just wait for luck to show up.  Go get it first.  Whether it's traveling, getting a gig of some sort, or a new business venture.  Don't take forever preparing and exploring.  It's good to prepare, but there's also over preparation.  Sometimes you need to set things in motion first, and then work like hell to do what you said you're going to do.

Step 2:  Don't forget the details

Currently, there are several people signed up for my mini-session giveaway.  So far, only four are going to qualify cause they actually followed the 3 steps I've given in order to qualify.  I purposely didn't make the giveaway as easy as simply "sharing" or "liking" the post on facebook.  Those who want it the most are going to follow all the steps necessary, and I love photographing go getters.  By not forgetting the details, they have upped their chances of being lucky because they're prepared properly to be lucky.

Step 3:  Give up on the right thing

If you want something really badly, there usually needs to be some sacrifice.  For example, if you want to get lucky with a gal/guy, you probably need to give up on being so stuck in your own ways.  Healthy relationships require healthy changes.  Or if you want to get  lucky with your new business venture, you probably shouldn't spend six hours a day on video games.  In my case, I gave up on pursuing a music career because I would rather do well in photography.

=====================================REMEMBER THIS=====================================

*Luck rarely comes to those who wait for luck to come.  Luck comes to those who jump into luck's path.

*If you take a few steps further than everyone else is willing to take, you're going to stand out and win at life.