Hard Work or Luck

[The Lone Gunman]

I say luck does not come into it although having a talent for something (and realising it) could be regarded as lucky I suppose.
Each job is different and hard in one way or another.
You do not get to the top of your tree, or even close to it, by being lucky. Even the worst chief exec has worked their way to the top.
You are successful because you work hard. You have studied and practised whatever you do to such an extent that you can earn lots (comparative) of money and can enjoy the benefits that brings.
There is a certain amount of luck in being in the right place at the right time, but without the hard work there would be no opportunity or ability to take advantage. Even with no luck the hard work would still pay off.

The IT industry is not the best payer either so no luck there and as expat said, a lot of what we do is easy so with a little hard work anyone could do it. It is not like we are gifted at anything is it.

[Torran]

I don't think many of us can claim to have actually done a job thats "hard".

I've worked on building sites, chopped down trees, worked long hours in hospitality and retail all before this IT piece of p*sh but none of them were hard. Physically demanding maybe, tedious with long hours maybe, poorly paid but not hard.

I got to this point with a bit of common sense, a bit of luck and a pair of balls.

[Shimano105]

Being a risk taker is probably more important than being lucky. Taking calculated risks is how you make your own luck.

Like jacking in a permie role in a recession and diving back into the contract market? Woohoo - I'm making my own luck!

[Shimano105]

I got to this point with a bit of common sense, a bit of luck and a pair of balls.

Lance Armstrong got where he is with less than that

[Peoplesoft bloke]

even so, chief exec where? In some companies the role can be a definite gravy train but there are probably a lot more where the chief exec is under serious pressure from the board to get results, increase/make profits and have to do the tulip job of reducing head count

Reducing head count is dead easy - the lazy management way to increase profits. As for pressure - sure, but unlike the tulip jobs you still get a fat wedge for a few years even if you're crap. CE = piece of piss

[elmo]

Its not how hard a job is that deternmines the $$$'s the biggest things are decision making and expertise. Are the decisions big, expensive etc then you will get paid lots or do you have expertise in something whether that be IT, like most on here, plumber, joiner, doctor etc etc.

Its the 2 big determinations of cash, but obviously hard work/luck will effect how much you get in comparison to your peers doing similar roles.

[Gordon Brown]

I like to think it's not down to luck or hard work, but maybe due to the most prudent and effective Chancellor in living memory.

[Ivor Bigun]

I say luck does not come into it although having a talent for something (and realising it) could be regarded as lucky I suppose.
Each job is different and hard in one way or another.
You do not get to the top of your tree, or even close to it, by being lucky. Even the worst chief exec has worked their way to the top.
You are successful because you work hard. You have studied and practised whatever you do to such an extent that you can earn lots (comparative) of money and can enjoy the benefits that brings.
There is a certain amount of luck in being in the right place at the right time, but without the hard work there would be no opportunity or ability to take advantage. Even with no luck the hard work would still pay off.

The IT industry is not the best payer either so no luck there and as expat said, a lot of what we do is easy so with a little hard work anyone could do it. It is not like we are gifted at anything is it.

Damm right - IMO, Luck is where opportunity meets preparation.

Unfortunately, its easy to misdiagnose what the preparation is.
IMO, its a mistake is to think it's personal skill or intelligence.
Its about capitalising on being in the right place at the right time.

[oracleslave]

I like to think it's not down to luck or hard work, but maybe due to the most prudent and effective Chancellor in living memory.

[aussielong]

luck bollocks

there is no luck, even the little crafty eye you gave the secretary of your uni when you enrolled has rubbed off on the universe and propelled you to where you are today