Are some people lucky, have good fortune or something else?

Most of us know people who seem to be more fortunate than others.  People often say (or at least think) these people are merely lucky or fortunate.  Every wonder why some people always seem to: be “lucky”; get the “breaks”; or “succeed”? Well luck has little or nothing to do with it. For example, were Wayne Gretzky, Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali & Rudy Ruettiger just lucky?  It wasn’t mere talent either, many are as talented as they were.  These guys did something special to be what they were & we can too.

Wayne Gretsky often said most hockey players skate to where the puck is, they spent their career chasing the puck.  Wayne Gretske skated to where the puck was going to be.  Muhammad Ali continually told others that he was “the greatest”.  He wasn’t shy about telling others what he thought about himself.  Michael Jordan saw his name on the high school roster – even though he had already been cut from his high school team.  Lastly, Rudy Ruettiger just knew he was going to play football for Notre Dame.  He wasn’t extremely talented, but it did happen for him too.  These are all examples of people who excelled in athletics, but regardless of what we're doing, we have at our disposal the same secret that made these guys excel.  What did these guys know that still escapes so many of us?

Regardless of what we are doing, the answer is the same. Whether we’re working to be a great parent, teacher, coach or business leader we can do exactly what these top performing athletes did to become great.  The big secret is that you have to see yourself winning before it can actually happen.  Years ago I read about positive visualization and saw it worked in a particular area of my life. Today even more evidence is available to show the effectiveness of positive visualization.  Most people who are struggling to just survive or get by (in any area of their life) tend to continually picture themselves in their current situation – or worse yet in a worse situation.  Any of us can do amazing things, just like these elite athletes mentioned above, if we begin by picturing ourselves already succeeding in whatever area we are involved with.  Even more important is that we are able to see others do amazing things, once we help them learn how to tap into feeling the electricity and excitement that is possible when they first see victory, then work to achieve it.

John Maxwell suggests we keep the following things in mind:

People sensing defeat will:                   People sensing victory will:

   Give as little as possible                           Sacrifice to succeed

   Look for excuses                                    Look for ways to win

   Become tired                                          Become energized

   Forsake their game plan                          Follow their game plan

   Hurt others                                             Help other team members

The question to ask ourselves is, “Where do we see ourselves today?”  We can be our own worse enemy or our own best ally.  Henry Ford said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”  Do we see ourselves sensing victory and looking for ways to make it a reality?  It’s not enough to just see the victory, we have to see it so clearly that we can feel it deep down inside our souls. Once that is done, we have to create a game plan to achieve it. Once the game plan is created, we have to commit to focus and work the plan with persistence and tenacity. Anyone can do it, if you see it first, then feel yourself already in possession of the very thing you desire.  Napoleon Hill wrote, “Whatever the mind can conceive and truly believe can be achieved.”