Entrepreneurs Are Not Lucky

Sep 10 2009

Entrepreneurs are Not Lucky

Last week I was talking with someone and made a comment along these lines:

“I’ve been really lucky with Doba and the success I’ve had as an entrepreneur.”

He immediately said to not take offense, but that it bugs him when successful people say they’re “lucky”, because I tried when other people sat at home and didn’t do anything. He had done the same thing for his successful website development and design business: he went out and made it happen. In his mid-sized town, about 50% of the people he knows always talk about starting a business, but never do.

I think 50% is about ballpark for people I know too. Maybe it’s the debt, the perceived risk, the working for free, the hard times it brings to families and marriages, etc. that keep people from taking the leap.

I was relaying this conversation to my wife, and she quipped, “Luck is not getting killed by a giant boulder.” ;)

Good point. Pure luck has no place in discussions about entrepreneurship. There is such a thing as being in the right place at the right time, and being benefited from things you don’t control. But that’s not luck. Roman philosopher Seneca nailed it almost 2,000 years ago:

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

My advice? If you’ve talked or thought about starting a business recently, take a day off from work, from family, and from play and take a bit of a leap. Seriously. Work for 8 hours on your business idea. See if you can’t get a jump start on some preparation.

I dare you to do it. Shoot, I double dog dare you.

And when you do it (or if you’ve already seen preparation pay off) I want to know about it. Comment or email me about your 8 hour leap or other experiences. Prove Mr. Seneca right.

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11 Comments; Filed under Entrepreneurship, Featured
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  • http://protoven.com/ Tyler Bye

    Poignant thoughts, Jeremy, thanks for a great post.

    I’ve just recently made the jump from Engineer at Move Networks to Owner of Protoven and have also entertained thoughts of how “lucky” I have been to land the client list I have in the short time I have been out on my own. Your post has caused me to reflect on what efforts I have made to gain that list, and those efforts are actually significant. I’ve made calls, networked well, and never passed up an opportunity to tell folks about my passion for creating software solutions. Whether it be an iPhone app, desktop integration project, web services app, I enjoy partnering with my clients to build something we both can be proud of.

    I fear I’m doing it again, so I’ll cut this short. Thanks for a great post and for reminding me to appreciate my efforts. Success will be built on hard work and sacrifice, not luck.

  • http://protoven.com Tyler Bye

    Poignant thoughts, Jeremy, thanks for a great post.

    I’ve just recently made the jump from Engineer at Move Networks to Owner of Protoven and have also entertained thoughts of how “lucky” I have been to land the client list I have in the short time I have been out on my own. Your post has caused me to reflect on what efforts I have made to gain that list, and those efforts are actually significant. I’ve made calls, networked well, and never passed up an opportunity to tell folks about my passion for creating software solutions. Whether it be an iPhone app, desktop integration project, web services app, I enjoy partnering with my clients to build something we both can be proud of.

    I fear I’m doing it again, so I’ll cut this short. Thanks for a great post and for reminding me to appreciate my efforts. Success will be built on hard work and sacrifice, not luck.

  • http://jeremyhanks.com/ Jeremy

    Tyler, thanks for sharing your story! Keep cranking and I’m sure Protoven will be a success for you.

  • http://jeremyhanks.com Jeremy

    Tyler, thanks for sharing your story! Keep cranking and I’m sure Protoven will be a success for you.

  • Jeff Hoverson

    Thanks. Great motivation. I might just do that.
    jeffh

  • Jeff Hoverson

    Thanks. Great motivation. I might just do that.
    jeffh

  • Felix Flores

    Thank you!
    You right about that
    Congratulation to be successfull businessnan
    I’m new comer Doba member
    tha’s mean a new entrepreneur businessman that took time to learn
    from your Doba Webinars.
    I don’t understand very well the system yet, but I am on my way
    trying to develop the right skills to do that!!!
    Thank you, again for your help!!!
    Feel free to send your comment about how to become expert in Doba?

  • http://Doba/Member2009 Felix Flores

    Thank you!
    You right about that
    Congratulation to be successfull businessnan
    I’m new comer Doba member
    tha’s mean a new entrepreneur businessman that took time to learn
    from your Doba Webinars.
    I don’t understand very well the system yet, but I am on my way
    trying to develop the right skills to do that!!!
    Thank you, again for your help!!!
    Feel free to send your comment about how to become expert in Doba?

  • http://eliteeternity.com Jeremy Blake

    “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

    ^^^One of my favorite quotes of all time. I keep it in my back pocket at all times to play on the haters.

  • http://eliteeternity.com Jeremy Blake

    “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”

    ^^^One of my favorite quotes of all time. I keep it in my back pocket at all times to play on the haters.

  • Joe C

    Jermey, I have several problems with doba. It might have been a good idea years ago, but it’s out of touch with reality and I find it impossible to make money with doba. I am convinced that all proponents are rookies to the system like Felix Flores below. But don’t take my word for it please read my in depth commentary on doba after $600 and 12 months of experience. From the doba blog ( http://www.dropshippingblog.com/online-retail/11/attention-online-retailers-the-importance-of-picking-a-niche/#comments )

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