Do You Believe in the Business Gods?

Let's talk about the business gods.

Like a baseball player who turns his cap backwards hoping for a 9th inning rally, or a football fan who wears the same unwashed jersey week after week to preserve a winning streak, I believe people in business have a similar amount of belief in a supernatural power we disguise today with the word “luck.”

You rarely hear “luck” used in reference to a baseball player who hits that clutch 9th inning home run, or the kicker who puts the ball through the center uprights as the clock runs out. But in business, when a person achieves huge success, you often hear “S/He must have had some luck.”

I am here to tell you “luck” does not exist in business. Much like the third baseman who takes an extra hour of batting practice every day, or the kicker who prepares day in and day out to split the uprights when it matters most, business success requires the same level of preparation or the business gods will not reward you.

So who are these business gods? It might sound crazy to some, but I truly believe the business gods are higher powers that reward people for hard work and doing the right things, which therefore leads to success.

An example: A good friend of mine called last week to say his law firm is finally taking off after three years of hard work and labor. He said he doesn’t understand why; he’s not doing anything differently, no marketing, no PR, no great new hires. Just the same dedicated hard work he’s done, again and again, over the last three years. My response was “The business gods are finally rewarding you! Congratulations!” When he asked me “But why now?” I could only respond, honestly, “I have no idea, but that’s how it works; reward when you least expect it.”

Our conversation intrigued me, and inspired me to look to other business leaders who believe in this philosophy.

For example, there’s this great quote from Standard-Examiner columnist Brad Larsen: “…[M]ost people appear at the right place at the right time not by luck but by design. They get what appears to be the big break, but in reality, they worked hard planning and following their hearts to get to where the big breaks come.

“The most accurate definition of 'luck' that I know is: Luck is that moment in time when skill, preparation and intuition meet opportunity.

“When we are prepared, things go our way more often. When we are not, things can fall apart. The key to having more good luck is hard work, preparation and self-awareness so that we can recognize and be ready when luck crosses our path.”

The business gods come when you least expect it. Rebel billionaire Richard Branson has often said “Success can take off without warning.” I know many people believe that these moments are not an act of gods -- but much like that last minute home run, sometimes you need that greater power to push you over the top.

The business gods reward those who give back -- One of the purest moments of the human spirit is when we repay the world around us. Many highly successful individuals commit to this philosophy. Warren Buffet summarizes this point very well: “Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago.”

We have all experienced rough patches in life and in business. Some of us have found our way and others have not. You can say those who have succeeded were lucky. Or maybe – just maybe – those who succeeded turned the hat backwards and got to work.

@khabie