We were at some friend's house the other day and the wife mentioned some other acquaintances of ours.
"It sure is too bad, all the bad luck they have," she said.
My first thought was, "Bad habits, not bad luck."
My second thought was, "Or is it bad choices?"
You see, there is a difference. What we many times call bad luck is merely bad choices.
Let me explain:
If you work hard, buy a new car, keep it up with regular maintenance and blow a tire driving down the road, that is bad luck.
However, if you drive on your tires until they are almost bald and drive at speeds higher than they are recommended for, and keep them at the wrong inflation level, and then the tire blows, that is not bad luck but bad choices. The tire blew because you chose not to buy new ones. The tire blew because you chose not to take the time to check your tire inflation level the last time you filled up the tank.
It is bad luck to leave your house on vacation and while you are away the gas line breaks and the house blows up.
It is bad habits to not tend to taking care of your house, replacing the roof, painting, etc until it is a junk pile. It is bad luck to be let go from a company that goes into meltdown because the CEO acted unethically and the stock tanks, forcing layoffs.
It is both bad choices and bad habits to be late to work everyday, display shoddy workmanship and have a bad attitude to the point that the boss fires you.
If you choose to frequent shady parts of town or risky establishments, and you get mugged, is that bad luck or bad choices?
You get the point.
How often do we call something bad luck when it is really the result of bad habits or bad choices?
This really boils down to a matter of ownership of our lives and actions. Do we take full responsibility for our lives or not? I know of a gentleman who was recently passed over for a job. It would have paid him $13,000 for a week's worth of work. The person who passed him over told me why. Knowing this gentleman, I said, "It is too bad, because with a few good choices, that guy could be living in a nice house, driving nice cars, and having very few financial problems."
What about you? Do you experience bad luck? Or bad habits? Or bad choices?
The next time you hear someone say, "He's down on his luck," perhaps you ought to ask, "Or is he down on his choices?" I have found that those who have good habits and make good choices tend to experience the best luck!
So, if you want a little good luck, make some good choices and develop some good habits.
"Luck is a dividend of sweat. The more you sweat, the luckier you get." Ray Kroc
"When I work fourteen hours a day, seven days a week, I get lucky." Dr. Armand Hammer
About The Author:
Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and achieve their dreams.
To see Chris "live" at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on the subject of Secrets of Influence go to http://chris-widener.inspiresyou.com/ or call 800-929-0434.
weekly home cleaning Lake Forest ..I've been thinking a lot about what I believe to... Read More
I love the idea of synchronicity.Perhaps it's just part of... Read More
Persistence is the foundation of success. Although there are many... Read More
According to Bill Gates there are 3 keys to success... Read More
If we are involved in a project, how hard should... Read More
Step 1 ? Learn a powerful key to increase financial... Read More
What characteristics are common among successful people. If you analyze... Read More
There are "How to" seminars on virtually every business topic.... Read More
Man is the most advanced being on this earth. We... Read More
To take the online road to success is not, contrary... Read More
Lots of people network but few reap the rewards of... Read More
What is a champion really? Sure, all success oriented people... Read More
Having clear goals and desires for our future, and planning... Read More
Why is it that most people still equate being successful... Read More
Whenever I'm feeling stuck in a rut, I go out... Read More
Jobs are heating up. We're all feeling the pinch of... Read More
Sugar Ray Leonard and Sylvester Stallone have recently hosted a... Read More
Do you remember when you were a child and no... Read More
They all know it's part of the success journey.They know... Read More
In the book, The SHOCKwealth System?, it is discussed that... Read More
He was pencil thin and walked with a limp. A... Read More
Never settle for what you can currently imagine You are... Read More
Creating a goal tracking chart is as simple as drawing... Read More
One of the most important aspects of creating success involves... Read More
The fastest way to succeeding in anything, be it online... Read More
best cleaning company Arlington Heights ..There is a close link between respect for another person's... Read More
Champions expect pain, endure pain, and never complain. ---UnknownAfter so... Read More
Imagine living in the world that Helen Keller found herself... Read More
We set goals, strive for them and only consider ourselves... Read More
"I have learned, that if one advances confidently in the... Read More
Reading lots these days? Having trouble remembering and recalling? For... Read More
You are never a failure until you accept defeat as... Read More
I confess, I love westerns. There is nothing like those... Read More
Pain. All of us have felt that emotion some time... Read More
Thoughts are very powerful. An intention held long and hard... Read More
Do you believe that? Do you believe we can all... Read More
Do you still keep that all important 'Inner Spark Alive'?... Read More
No matter how young or old you are, you must... Read More
In terms of life success, there are four pretty obvious... Read More
Most dictionary entries would define failure as the simple lack... Read More
Fear, or negative anxiety, is the modern day bubonic plague,... Read More
Too often we wait for the 'right time' or 'the... Read More
It is often said that the only things in life... Read More
We experience failure directly or indirectly. Here we will come... Read More
In individualistic success models, success is not due to the... Read More
Most of my clients had a vision of the contribution... Read More
I have found that sometimes the subtle difference in our... Read More
One of the greatest compliments I ever received in my... Read More
Every single one of us is trying to reach success.... Read More
Arsenal Football Club were the Champions of the Premier league... Read More
Success |