I once told someone the story about how I got my gig with Cirque Dreams and half way through they said, “Oh man, you were in the right place at the right time.” The expression “the right place at the right time” has always kind of annoyed me. It dismisses effort and devalues ingenuity. I believe that the right place at the right time has a grain of truth to it, however. That being said, I’m not going to disregard that there is often times an element of true serendipity in life. But I think it’s important to not rely blindly on any type of cosmic kindness to make your goals happen. There is a way to up your chances and increase the odds in your favor. Screw serendipity, it’s time you focus on making your own good fortune.
I’m a skeptic. By that, I mean, I don’t just dismiss everything that hoves into view. I am, however, a skeptic when it comes to mystical or supernatural claims. I’m a naturalist; I’m an objectivist. Reason is the only means man has to grasp knowledge and understand reality and logic is man’s method of reaching conclusions objectively by deriving them without contradiction from the facts of reality. In short, I don’t believe that there is a cosmic force in the universe that acts in our favor or against us.
Which brings me to the concept of “luck.”
I’ve always been considered a “lucky” person by some people. Once when I was in college I got an upperclassman parking tag when I was only a freshman. Lucky me, right? There are things like this that happen on a daily basis as well as things that could be considered very “unlucky.” But the human mind really only focuses on the “hits” instead of all the “misses.”
The state of being in “Luck,” in my opinion, can be increased. No, not through wishes or crossing your fingers. Your chances of being lucky can be increased by simply being more observant, varying your routine, and trying really hard.
Most people I know just aren’t very observant. And I’m not talking about watching the road or paying attention to what’s going on in a television show. I’m talking about knowing when an opportunity is presenting itself to you. Putting yourself in situations that will increase your odds of exposure.
I, for one, take just about any opportunity that is presented to me – good or bad. I’ve been offered to do terrible movies and been like, “sure, I’ll do that.” Because my theory is that maybe someone will see the movie, hate it, but like the music and get in touch with me. I’ll go to film festivals and pass out my business card. I’ll read flyers stapled to music store walls. I listen to conversations after a show. I keep my eyes open for an opportunity and I take the opportunity when it’s right for me.
That being said, I don’t swoop in on other opportunities. I remember this one time a musician friend of mine was talking to a booking agent or something. The guy specifically sought out my buddy to talk to him. I saw them talking and I didn’t say shit. I didn’t butt in. None of that stuff. That was my opportunity. It was my friend’s. I’m not going to crash his party. But that’s just me, you do what you feel is right for you. Just don’t let it adversely affect other people
But you also have to vary your routine. I remember reading in a skeptic journal that people have been proven to increase their odds of having “luck” by varying their daily routine. Pick a different route to work. Go to a different grocery store. Go play at a different venue you’ve never played in. My point is that if you stick to the same routine you’re probably not going to meet new people and new opportunities.
There’s something to be said about an ounce of temerity.
The last thing I want to try and impart is that you have to work hard.
I can’t stress this enough.
Look, I don’t have any kids, but if I did I would tell them that if you just try really really hard you’ve already got an advantage over everyone else around you.
So few people try really hard these days. It seems like the new American Dream is to become famous by doing nothing. Kids see how Kim Kardashian or Snooki get famous for being nothing but famous and they want that.
If someone asked me to explain to them who Kim Kardashian is and what she does the only thing I could say is, “she used to be the friend of that daughter to the guy that owns all those hotels and now she has over 18 million followers on Twitter.”
People want to be given things. People now feel comfortable in not earning or working for what they have. Well, the reality is that none of the people you know are going to reach that dream. So if you just try really really hard you’ll get somewhere.
You might not hit the bull’s eye but you’ll probably hit the target.
I’ve auditioned for things, not gotten the part, but because of that audition process I’ve gotten something else. I’ve tried to get deals with certain places, not gotten those deals, but earned other deals through the process of just trying.
So “luck” can go fuck itself. Just be observant, vary your routine, and try really really hard.
