#1179 Good Luck

I dedicate this post to my Cugino Steve, who continues to make the best use of his good luck.

"I can only make sense of my unaccountable good luck by assuming that it means I am under special obligation to make good use of it," said Novelist Marilynne Robinson

I came across this quote, but I didn't know Marilynne Robinson, so I looked her up.  She has won many notable book awards, including The Hemingway, The National Book Critics Circle, and, most notably, The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2005. I looked her up to find out who she was and was pleased to see that she is such a prolific and well-regarded writer. However, had she not won anything, I'd still have led with her quote because it struck me as very wise, and it aligned nicely with my life philosophy.

Deb and I look back in amazement at the life that has been gifted to us. We have two wonderful daughters and three amazing grandkids, and they all live close by.  That's good luck!

We live in a lovely house with a good amount of property in a quiet area.  That's good luck!

None of this was likely when we met. Our good luck, like that of Ms. Robinson, is unaccountable.

We have felt, and continue to feel, a sense of obligation to make good use of it.  We've run charity events for nearly forty years and participate in the events of others whenever possible.

We've leveraged our good fortune to make the acquaintance of some influential people and have challenged them to do their best for society at large.

We've met some wealthy individuals who may or may not have made significant donations to charities, but upon our urging, they've done so.

Making good use of our luck meant charity work for Deb and me, though I know there are other ways to make good use of your luck.

What is good luck? Luck is a tricky word. We want to take credit for achieving success according to societal definitions, and conversely, we want those who haven't succeeded by those same norms to be held accountable. These days, that smacks a bit of hubris and judgment for me.

The quote "There but for the grace of God go I" comes immediately to mind.

When the Somma family gets together for a meal, and we offer gratitude before eating, we usually say:

When I have food, let me remember those who are hungry, and while I have shelter, let me think of those experiencing homelessness.

When I am healthy, let me remember those who are sick and, while surrounded by family, those who are lonely.

Let me always remember that people are crying out for many of the things I take for granted.

This little prayer acknowledges how lucky we are and reminds us to be grateful for it.

So, what is luck? Is it not succumbing to disease? Is it not suffering a life-changing injury? Is luck meeting your spouse and having a partner for the long term? Is all this good fortune we have luck?

I smoked for 25 years, and I'm lucky I don't have cancer. My good friend John never touched a cigarette and died from esophageal cancer. Regardless of how much we may credit our efforts for our good fortune, there is always some luck at play.

I don't believe we are powerless to produce and sustain some of our luck. Indeed, I coach many people to help them fulfill their potential. If you want to get to the top of an oak tree, you can plant an acorn and sit on it for 80 years, or you can climb.

However, we must acknowledge that luck plays a role in our success. As Zig Ziglar said, "When you see a turtle on a fence post, you can be sure he didn't get there on his own."

We like to take credit for our success, and well, we should. We should also recognize our good luck and, as Ms. Robinson said, understand the obligation to make good use of it. For me, that means not only feathering our own beds but doing things that feather the beds of others.

Own Your Sales Gene…