Sucess=passion, persistence, talent and...
When I was in college, I majored in theater. I know, shocking isn't it? Now that you've recovered, I have to tell you about something I learned while at a theater competition in California. I went to a workshop titled something like, "Do you have what it takes?" to see if I could make it big in theater. The lady who taught the class lectured then gave us an oral questionnaire of things we
needed to make it big. She should know, she had a bit part in the
Young and the Restless. I dunno. To me that didn't sound like wild
success. But who was I to argue with someone actually making a living in my chosen field? I found her lecture interesting and worth my time as I came away with several precious nuggets of wisdom. First, I decided I didn't want to do professional theater. I didn't have the passion or persistence and my talent was only so-so. Second, you need passion, persistence and talent to be successful in any profession. Third, there is one other element needed to be successful. After she presented, she asked questions in order of importance for us to evaluate ourselves. The first she asked, "Are you lucky?" Not, Are you talented or good looking (phew!) The second? "Are you lucky?" Perhaps it was the repetition or the fact that this particular question was first two on the list of ten, but it got me thinking. Am I lucky? Do I really need luck to succeed? Now that I'm older and have heard more success stories of my peers, I really do think that there is a ton of work, sacrifice and preparation that comes before your big break. But so many stars (no Hollywood pun intended) have to be aligned, so many things orchestrated beyond our control, that could only attributed to luck.
When I read the title of the post, I mentally added lucky after the "...". Every talk I've ever went to by a Nobel Laureate or "famous" scientist, where they talked about the seminal experiments that catapulted them to where they are today, seemed to involve at least a bit of luck =) Though, without passion, persistence, and talent, in general, it seems that luck doesn't carry people far.
ReplyDeleteI think what's cool about this, is that it applies to every field!
ReplyDeleteRob told me about one of his favorite pianists who played an opener at some concert and attracted the attention of his future agent that launched his career. Someone accused the pianist, you're just lucky. True, but there was a lot of work that involved to be at a place where the luck can happen.
It is SO much more than luck. You do make your own breaks many times. But there are definitely outside forces that can bless your lives. You may call it luck, but it is SO much more!
ReplyDeleteLuck, Providence, divine intervention, fate. Sometimes we put in all our effort and it still doesn't pan out. Sometimes we are aided by Grace.
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