Reply to: Is success in life more a matter of luck than anything else?

[EternalOptimist]

Perhaps as Baggy said, I should have used the word "randomness" rather than "luck". I believe randomness is more pervasive than we think and as a lot of posters have demonstrated on this thread they ascribe personal qualities to what is in the end often an accident of birth.

To sumarise the SasGuru position

'Their is a vast mass of events that are out of our control, but we misguidedly think we are in control (it's human nature). The tiny bit that we DO control is random anyway so whats the point ? just get on and enjoy it, dont fret.'

On AGW

'Their is a vast mass of events that are out of our control, but we misguidedly think we are in control (it's human nature). The tiny bit that we DO control is random anyway but thats the point. Get the hairy shirt and taxes on, dont forget to fret.'

[Stan.goodvibes]

Funnily enough there is an article in a NZ paper today from entrepeneurs stating that to be successful you need to a strong sense of self-beleif, perserverence, and a spot of luck.

In our society you *can* make your own luck, but I have read plenty of stories of people just luckily being in the right place at the right time and making money (if thats your definition of success) almost by accident.

I have been 'lucky' several times in my life, but then sometimes that luck was the result of being prepared to try something different or move country for better opportunities, so maybe that was me making my own luck.

[tim123]

I subscribe to the "you make your own luck" theory.

Whilst on average people will all get a similar number of good/bad breaks in their life, some will take advantage of them, and some wont. The former are the "lucky" ones.

No-one could possibly be as unlucky as Johnny Herbert - there really must have been something wrong with his driving technique.

tim

[Platypus]

Book recommendation:

The Luck Factor: Change Your Luck and Change Your Life

[Bagpuss]

Is it luck to have a big willy that women like, or is it hard work?

I think some would argue that it was hard work, Pot Noodle to the ready

[sasguru]

So the old Cockney goodbye "Be Lucky" is actually very profound

[Purple Dalek]

I didn't get where I am today by talking about luck Reggie!

Gosh, so many oldies on this board.

[DimPrawn]

I didn't get where I am today by talking about luck Reggie!

[Doggy Styles]

Person B was lucky to have wanderlust. Some people aren't cut out for it.

[NetwkSupport]

Fate has a large part to play?

The more choices you make in life expand the amonut of your possible outcomes?

For example person A had one job all their life, just about got by, never really ventured out of their home town, married childhood sweetheart and divorced at 25.

Person B moved house various times, travelled a few countries, tried/failed/gave up in 20 different jobs, learning new skills, started a business and failed (bad luck), started another and was a millionaire by 40 years old. met about 30 diferent girls and had loads of relationships, married a supermodel he met "by chance" aged 35 and lived happily ever after.

If person B never left his home town sureley he would have led the same life as person A? and visa versa for Person A?

[ratewhore]

Ah but you were lucky enough to be born in a society that had opportunities that you could take advantage of. (Opportunties that are declining rapidly I fear ).
So in that sense you were lucky.

Oh FFS!!

In that case I was unlucky not to be born into the families of the rockefellers, or the hiltons, or the Gates, or countless Russian billionaires.

God damn my awful life - I feel mental illness coming on, I've had such a poor hand dealt!!!

[sasguru]

Insurance companies do OK!

Until a Black Swan comes along that wipes them out.

[Jog On]

But, do you consider somebody who takes account of randomness (to their advantage) to be lucky, well informed, or just clever?

Insurance companies do OK!

[deano]

Perhaps as Baggy said, I should have used the word "randomness" rather than "luck". I believe randomness is more pervasive than we think and as a lot of posters have demonstrated on this thread they ascribe personal qualities to what is in the end often an accident of birth.

Randomness does play its part. But the personal attitude is just as important. If a random event happened and two people saw it, but only one of them had the character to take advantage of it for their own ends then is it legitimate to descibe that person's "qualities" as a mere accident of birth, because they were present at the random event?

Random events happen for everyone, but each event and any ensuing chains of events take on their own significance depending upon the culture or country you are born in.

"For want of a nail, the shoe was lost..." Sum's it up nicely I think. If the guy had found a nail would he have put the shoe back on or would he have let the chance go by?

[sasguru]

Is it luck to have a big willy that women like, or is it hard work?

I don't expect you'll ever know.