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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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How Luck Happens summary
Janice Kaplan and Barnaby Marsh
Using the Science of Luck to Transform Work, Love and Life
17 mins
Brief summary
How Luck Happens by Janice Kaplan and Barnaby Marsh reveals the myths and misconceptions about luck and offers practical steps to increase your chances of success. Explore the science behind luck and discover how it's not simply a matter of chance, but rather a combination of hard work, resilience, and positivity.
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How Luck Happens
Summary of 7 key ideas
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Key idea 1 of 7
Luck is a combination of chance, talent and hard work, and we have more control over it than we think.
There’s a common misconception that luck lies beyond our control – and that it occurs randomly. In reality, however, it’s much more tangible than that.
Luck is not the same thing as chance, but chance does play a part in luck. Equating the two is probably the biggest mistake people make. It’s important to understand that while chance is totally out of our control, it’s always accompanied by other factors that we can control. In fact, luck is the result of chance meeting talent and hard work, and increasing your luck involves preparation and the ability to seize opportunities.
For instance, let’s say that, by chance, you get seated next to an investor at a dinner party and that, after pitching your idea to her, she decides to provide you with the initial capital to start your company. Now, some people would call this a random stroke of luck. But notice that there are two parts to it: the seating arrangement and how you handle the seating arrangement. The first part is chance. The second, which depends on your ability to pitch your idea to anyone at any time, is preparation. Together, they both combine to generate luck.
Having established that chance events are completely out of your control, you should thus ignore them and focus instead on what you can influence – that is, luck.
Think of luck as a slot machine: if you can ensure that two out of three cherries are always lined up – by being curious and working hard – then it’s much more likely that that third cherry will, at some point, fall into place.
Most of us are actually already aware of this. In a national survey conducted by the authors, 67 percent of respondents believed that hard work played a role in luck in their lives, and 64 percent thought that luck depended on curiosity and seeking out opportunities.
So, as you now know, there is a lot more to luck than just random chance. In the upcoming blinks, you’ll learn how to exert control and increase your chances of getting lucky.
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What is How Luck Happens about?
How Luck Happens (2018) debunks the myth that luck is something we have zero control over, revealing that we certainly can influence the level of luckiness in our lives. Packed with examples and practical advice, this book shows how luck can be improved in the workplace as well as the dating scene.
How Luck Happens Review
How Luck Happens (2018) explores the role luck plays in our lives and offers valuable insights on how we can increase our chances of success. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It provides a fresh perspective on luck and challenges conventional thinking, encouraging readers to take control of their own luck.
- The book combines research, interviews, and personal stories to illustrate how luck is not just a matter of chance but can be influenced by our actions and mindset.
- With its engaging storytelling and practical tips, the book keeps readers engaged, proving that luck can be cultivated and harnessed to our advantage.
Best quote from How Luck Happens
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.
—Janice Kaplan and Barnaby Marsh
Who should read How Luck Happens?
- Those who are tired of waiting for luck to find them
- People hoping to improve their success in work, love or family
- Anyone who wants to beat the competition
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How Luck Happens FAQs
What is the main message of How Luck Happens?
The main message of How Luck Happens is that luck is not purely random, but can be influenced and created through certain behaviors and mindsets.
How long does it take to read How Luck Happens?
The reading time for How Luck Happens varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is How Luck Happens a good book? Is it worth reading?
How Luck Happens is worth reading as it provides insights and actionable strategies to increase luck in our lives.
Who is the author of How Luck Happens?
The authors of How Luck Happens are Janice Kaplan and Barnaby Marsh.
What to read after How Luck Happens?
If you're wondering what to read next after How Luck Happens, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Can You Learn to be Lucky? by Karla Starr
- Success and Luck by Robert H. Frank
- Lateral Thinking by Edward de Bono
- Million Dollar Weekend by Noah Kagan
- Originals by Adam Grant
- 13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do by Amy Morin
- The Serendipity Mindset by Christian Busch
- Beyond the Pleasure Principle by Sigmund Freud
- A History of Fake Things on the Internet by Walter Scheirer
- Influence by Robert B. Cialdini