171: How to Get Lucky - Part I

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Here’s a quote by Lois McMaster Bujold

“Experience suggests it doesn’t matter so much how you got here, as what you do after you arrive.”

Isn’t it true that every now and then, a little luck is all you need. I know there are 2 things you can do to increase the likelihood good things will happen to you. Each one puts you in a better position to gain momentum and achieve your goals.

In this episode, I’ll tell you all about how to be in the right place at the right time

In the next episode of this series, I’ll tell you how important it is to get current; You’ve got to clean the slate because it’s hard to take on more when you’re already buried. Let me start with a story...

During the winter of 2012 someone told me: “You’re so lucky, you got a book published.”

I gotta tell you, it has stuck with me ever since. Whenever I work with a small business owner or a newly promoted manager, I think to myself, “How are they managing - and creating - their luck?”

So in this podcast I want to tell you step by step how I created this “lucky” experience.

And, it all starts from the cliche “ Be in the right place at the right time.” Take those two pieces of advice, one at a time...

RIGHT PLACE:

This means that you’re getting out, you’re putting yourself in a position to meet people, to see things, to do things. Here’s a question for you:

Where do you need to be, that will increase the likelihood good luck will happen? Click pause on the podcast, and answer that question. Here it is again: Where do you need to be, that will increase the likelihood good luck will happen?

RIGHT TIME:

You’ve heard the saying, “Timing is everything,” right? Well, here’s what I know - and trust:

Luck doesn’t happen EVERY time, but it could happen at ANY time...

Just a few weeks ago, in New York City, I met a woman in the elevator as we were traveling down to the lobby. Between the 7th floor and the 1st floor, we shared a conversation. As the doors opened, she said, “Do you have a copy I can buy right now?” Yup, my “elevator pitch” worked that day! Was I lucky? Nope… right place…right time.

Let me tell you the story of getting “lucky” and getting my book published.

On March 12th, 2011…

I was at a conference, it was rainy morning, and as I reviewed the conference schedule I saw a meeting titled, “From Blog to Book.” The breakout session was at a hotel a 1.2 mile walk away from where I was. So, I had a choice…

The easy thing would have been to choose a different breakout, and skip that one. I mean it was cold, rainy and windy outside…not a great day for a walk. But, as the saying goes, “You’ve got to play to win.” So walk I did.

At the end of the session I introduced myself to the three book publishers who were the panelists, and gave them my card. I had been writing a blog, I said, and now I wanted to write a book. They all smiled…one guy even said, “Good luck with that.”

An hour later I was back near the main conference center, about to cross a street when I looked up to see Matt, one of the publishers on the panel. So, I reintroduced myself, told him again about my plan to publish a book, and even said, “I’ve started a book proposal, can I send it to you?” He gave me his card - again - and said he’d take a look.

And that put me in to action. You see, over the previous 6 months, on again/off again, I’d been working on writing a book proposal. I’d even submitted a version of it to another publisher, and NEVER got a response. So, when Matt said he’d look it over, I knew I had to act fast…

I called Jodi, said I’d catch up later that evening, went to the hotel room, and worked for 4 hours straight to finish a version of the proposal I could send to Wiley Publishing. I clicked send, and met Jodi for dinner - That was March