It’s the month of the Irish, kissing the blarney stone (with your mask on), finding 4-leaf clovers (when you get to be outside), wearing green (pajamas work too)– all under the impression that it will bring luck.
It’s also the month when history makes us more aware of all the amazing women around the world that have made significant contributions (outside of birthing EVERY SINGLE HUMAN). Which is worth paying attention to. Women, like many groups who have been marginalized in history, have had to create their own luck.
And Luck has felt elusive for many in 2020.
When it came to employment and women, Gallup reports that while both men and women’s employment numbers suffered greatly, as of Feb 2021 we have 493,000 fewer employed women than men since Feb 2020.
How does luck apply when you’re concerned with:
losing a job
suffering from the effects of the pandemic
losing family members to Covid-19
helping other employees feel seen, heard, and valued while working virtually
burn-out when juggling it all
For many, luck is an elusive friend they get to glimpse only when they catch a great sale, the kids are content and happily doing homework, your team at work is on target despite a sudden set back. The executives I coach include knowing that their employees are connecting with one another and still like their work.
Luck helps us feel happy and charmed. Yet, Luck IS something that we can create. AND – you can make more luck! That’s right, you heard it here – but if you’ve read Barking up the Wrong Tree by Eric Barker, you’ve read it there too.
Barker offers proof that science can help you with luck. I’ve often heard the saying, “Luck is only for those who are prepared to recognize it.” Or “Luck is for the prepared.” But here is where science may help you know HOW to be more prepared for the luck you want. Barker lets us visit the Luck School. You haven’t heard of this school – it was simply an experiment conducted by Professor Richard Wiseman of the University of Hartfordshire to explore if luck was just that – elusive happenstance that showed up randomly.
Turns out, luck is about the choices people make. Studying 1000 people, Wiseman found that lucky people maximize opportunities.
Their behaviors were more optimistic–
they are more open to new experiences
more extroverted when needed
less neurotic about being perfect
trusted their instincts
Turns out, lucky people just try stuff. And when things don’t work – they learn. One of my favorite sayings is, “you either win or learn.” That’s a choice way to see things so that you choose how you will always grow.
So, if you are reading this and wondering what to do to create your own luck, TRY any of these:
Reach out to one person at work (or you’ve worked with before) and connect on what life is like right now.
Reach out to a family member and share with them what you admire most about them.
Reach out and invite someone to chat and explore ways to collaborate.
Don’t over think things or get stuck in your head on things you can’t control.
Trust your gut and do something that makes you happy for 15 minutes a day.
Reach out and invite others to talk about Luck. 😊
Just TRY STUFF!
Women have been doing this for centuries – often, against all odds of success. Women have been creating their own luck at every turn and women today are blessed to be able to stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us in history. Knowing that we have equal brilliance, fortitude, brains, and innovation to work with everyone else – regardless of gender, color, age, culture, or ethnicity.
This is the month to step into creating the luck you want for the rest of 2021!