1© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

Introduction

“Our real problem is not our strength today; it is rather the vital necessity of action today to ensure our strength tomorrow.” (Calvin Coolidge)

Most people associate success with luck of some kind. Even hard-working, successful people often attribute their breaks and their breakthroughs to some

kind of luck. The fact is that luck is largely predictable. You can organize your life to assure that you have far more so-called luck than the average person.

The key to understanding the factor of luck is to be aware of the Law of Probabilities. This law says that there is a certain probability of any event occurring. For example, if you flip a coin, the probability of it landing heads or tails is always 50 percent.

One out of 100 families has a net worth of more than a million dollars. Therefore, the probability of your family becoming millionaires is about 1 percent, or greater.

In this lesson you will learn:

■ The Law That Governs the Universe

■ The Role of Self-Reliance in Luck

■ The Top Quality of All Successful People

■ How to develop a Positive, Cheerful Attitude

■ How Energy Enables You to Recognize Opportunities

■ The Most Important Luck Factor of All

The Luck Factor

PersonalGrowth Strategies

2© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

What Do You Already Know?

Test your knowledge by attempting to answer the questions below.

1. What is the role of luck in success?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

2. Does “knowing what you want” make you a luckier person?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3. Do people who work on high-value tasks enjoy more luck than the average person?

__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

4. If you get your most important jobs done faster than the average person, will you enjoy more luck?

__________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________

3© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

5. How important is mastery of your field to enjoying the “lucky” breaks?

__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

6. If you have money in the bank, will you enjoy more luck than someone who is always broke?

__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

7. If you take excellent care of your physical health, will you be luckier than someone who is tired and worn out?

__________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________

4© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

The Luck Factor

The Law of Cause and Effect governs the universe. For every effect, there is a cause. Even if you don’t know the cause, this does not mean that a cause does not exist. Attributing your successes to luck or your failures to bad luck is merely a reflection that you are ignorant of the reasons things happen the way they do.

1. Imagine an unskilled man throwing darts in a dark room at a distant target.

a) Imagine a skilled dart thrower in a well-lit room, standing close to the target

with an endless supply of darts. Who would have the greatest probability of hitting a bull’s-eye?

b) The key to success? Do everything possible to increase your probabilities of success!

c) Luck is not chance – it is not a gamble or random, haphazard occurrences;

d) Luck is best defined as “a fortunate event that helps you to achieve your goals faster than could be normally expected;”

e) When a person studies and practices for years to become excellent – at music, sports, craftsmanship or sales – is his or her success a matter of luck?

f) Is an excellent performance in any area attributable to luck?

g) If a sophisticated piece of machinery works, according to the Laws of Mechanics, Physics and Electricity, is it luck?

21The Law of Attraction is a major luck factor. It says that you attract into your life people and circumstances in harmony with your dominant thoughts.

5© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

3. Clarity is a key luck factor.

a) Know exactly what you want! This helps you to recognize opportunities to attain it;

b) Write it down in detail. This activates your reticular cortex and the Law of Attraction;

c) Make a detailed plan of action, organized by priority;

d) Determine the key skills and knowledge you will require and start learning them;

e) Maintain momentum and energy – do something every day to move toward your goal.

4. Responsibility is a key luck factor.

a) SELF-RELIAnCE – look to yourself versus others;

b) Make progress rather than making excuses;

c) VIEW YOURSELF AS SELF-EMPLOYED – the President of your own company, your own career, your own life, family, health and finances;

d) BE proACTIvE – take the initiative rather than waiting for things to happen;

e) You don’t have a good day. You make it a good day!

5. Result-orientation is a key luck factor.

a) Top quality of all successful people;

6© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

b) Set careful priorities on your activities;

c) Always work on your highest-value tasks;

d) Keep asking, “What is the most valuable use of my time right now?”

e) What can you, and only you do, that if done well, will make a real difference?

f) The more you focus and concentrate, the more you get done and the luckier you will become.

6. Speed and action-orientation is a key luck factor.

a) Develop a sense of urgency;

b) Move fast on ideas, opportunities and problems;

c) A fast tempo is essential to success;

d) Action-orientation increases the number of things you do and increases your odds of being lucky;

e) The faster you move, the smarter, more positive you become, the more energy you have, the more experience you get.

7. Knowledge and skill are key luck factors.

a) The future belongs to the competent;

b) Continuous learning increases your luck;

c) One key piece of information can give you the edge in a situation;

d) Read, listen to audio programs, watch videos and take continuous training;

7© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

e) What one skill, if you were excellent at it, would have the greatest positive impact on your life?

f) Mastery is the key to the future. Resolve to join the top 10 percent in your field;

g) Get good, get better, be the best!

8. People and contacts are key luck factors.

a) The more people you know, and who know you, the more likely it is that you will experience luck;

b) Almost every lucky event involves one person or more;

c) Apply the Law of Sowing and Reaping. Look for ways to help and contribute to others;

d) network continually to expand your contacts;

e) Join clubs, associations and other groups. Get involved!

9. Relationships are key luck factors.

a) Your choices of friends and associates can change your life;

b) Your choice of a mate, partner or spouse can bring you luck;

c) Get around positive people!

d) Get away from negative people;

e) Invest time in building high-quality relationships.

8© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

10. Money is a key luck factor.

a) Save 10 percent or more of everything you earn;

b) Build a reserve of luck and opportunity money.

11. Image is an important luck factor.

a) People judge you by the way you look on the outside;

b) Dress for success – take time to look your best.

12. A positive, cheerful attitude is a key luck factor.

a) Develop a positive mental attitude – the key to being liked by others;

b) Law of Expectations – expect the best, look for the good;

c) Practice optimism and cheerfulness in everything you do.

13. Energy is a key luck factor.

a) Alertness and awareness enable you to recognize opportunities;

b) Take excellent care of your physical health.

14. Character is perhaps the most important luck factor of all.

a) To thine own self be true;

b) Integrity is the most required and respected quality in relationships;

c) You always behave consistent with your highest values.

9© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

Luck is predictable. You can be a luckier, happier, more successful person by doing the things that other lucky people do. And it’s completely under your control!

Action Exercises

1. In what three ways do you make your own luck?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________

2. Give three ways why you will experience more luck when you are absolutely clear about your goals:

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________

3. How does viewing yourself as self-employed make you luckier in your work and in your career?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

10© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

4. When you work on your highest value tasks and activities, why is it that you seem to be a luckier person?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

5. Why do people with a “sense of urgency” seem to be luckier in the things they do?

1. ________________________________________________________________ 2. ________________________________________________________________ 3. ________________________________________________________________

6. When you are continually learning new skills and ideas, you seem to experience more luck. Why is this?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

11© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

7. In looking back, how has preparation, skill, personal discipline and excellent performance contributed to your “luck?”

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

8. Why is it that the choice of a partner or spouse can help you to be luckier in life?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

9. In what ways does having money in the bank make you a luckier person?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

12© Brian Tracy. All rights reserved. The contents, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form for any purpose without the written permission of Brian Tracy.

10. How could you improve your image to assure that you have better luck in the things that you do?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

11. Why do high levels of health and energy increase the likelihood that you will be lucky?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

12. Why do people with higher levels of integrity experience more luck?

1. ________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________

What one thing are you going to do differently as a result of this lesson?

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________