How to become too lucky to fail

  Business is a game of calculated risk. Problem-solving, R&D, customer insights, the competitive landscape, there are a myriad of things to factor in when creating a product. As much as we like to think there is an exact science for success, the truth is there isn't. No person or company (think Samsung or Pepsi) is above complete failure. We post an "Open" sign on our front door hoping all the marketing was enough and that people will come flocking through the front door. Unfortunately, that is not always the result. So what is the keystone to an entrepreneur's success?

Luck. 

  Every entrepreneur can give a distinct example of a time they got lucky. "If this didn't happen, there's no way we would be where we are today." For me, one of my luckiest moments was running into two girls on Dickson St named Natalie and Amanda. Natalie and I had an entrepreneurship class, but to be honest I was not really aware of that ( to be fair, it was a big class). Come to find out they were interior design students, something I knew nothing about. I am not sure what compelled these two girls to help me as much as they did, but it ended up being a great relationship. After all, not too many ID students can show real photos of interiors they designed in their portfolio. Natalie and Amanda helped me build my dream while building theirs in the future. 

  Here's the result of that random meeting. I'm not sure what the interior of the restaurant would have looked like without Natalie and Amanda, but I guarantee it would not look anything like that. I could go on about more lucky moments, but this is a very tangible example.

  Now, outsiders are very quick to attribute one's success to luck; luck that was unfairly bestowed upon them.  The only reason why they are successful is because xyz happened. If that happened to me, I'd be successful too. I think there is a substantial difference between how opportunists and pessimists perceive luck: opportunists focus on their own fortunes whereas pessimists focus on the fortunes of others and interpret it as a result of their personal misfortune. And there is a simple test to determine which side of the fence you are on when it comes to perception of luck. Just ask yourself this:

Is luck purely coincidental, or do you have the ability to affect the amount of luck that comes your way?

There is some truth to successful people being luckier than others, but it is certainly not a coincidence. Let me explain. 

Natalie and Amanda

  Successful people are luckier not because they inherently have more luck, but because they put themselves in more positions to get lucky. It is the entrepreneurs who put themselves out there, who work longer and harder, who take more risks that get lucky. Going back to my story with Natalie and Amanda, it is important to note that there was some ground work that I unintentionally laid for that sequence of events to occur. Even before securing an investment or signing a lease, I had begun the marketing campaign for Con Quesos. I made a website, bought over 2000 stickers of the logo, and spoke about the concept every chance I could in class, including the entrepreneurship class I apparently had with Natalie. It wasn’t easy either—most of the time the people who had the misfortune of being my audience, professors included, had a "oh..how nice?" expression when I gave a pitch (anyone who has told their parents about a lofty dream they wanted to pursue knows exactly what this expression looks like). But that conversation on Dickson St may have never happened that night if it weren’t those impromptu elevator pitches in class, or $2 "you call its" at Grubs on Tuesdays.

  It is also important to note that luck is a double-edged sword: with more good luck comes more bad luck. As much as we'd love to be dealt pocket Aces after every shuffle, it's unrealistic to expect that. The best poker players are not always the ones that get the most ideal hands, rather, they are the ones that are best at playing with the cards they're dealt. The ability to persevere through hardship with no loss of enthusiasm is a vital trait to every entrepreneur. Those that do not possess it are pessimists and will have a hard time getting past the hurdles of going to market. Luck is not always about what happens to you; it's about how you perceive what happens to you. 

Tom and I

  The final component to luck is being ready for when it comes your way. I am not sure who said it, probably someone smart, but the quote is this: Luck is when opportunity meets preparation. You not only have to be lucky enough to have an opportunity fall in your lap; you also have to be ready to make something of it. A story I like to tell about this topic is how I met Tom Gordon, the CEO and Co-founder of Slim Chickens. One day I was working in the business college when I ran into my friend, Liz. We caught up, I asked her how she was, she reciprocated. Liz told me about how she just got out of a hospitality class that Tom spoke at, and that he offered his business card to every student. I asked her if I could have the card, which she happily gave to me, and I started to scheme. Later that night, I emailed Tom from my .edu email thanking him for the presentation in the class I was in (I was not in that class) and how I was working on a school project (technically, it was at the time) and that I'd love to get some help from him. His secretary, Heather, emailed me back and setup a time for us to meet that week. The second we got into that conference room I opened my laptop up, pulled up my slide deck, and proceeded to ask him for $150,000. He got a big laugh out of it, appreciated the tenacity, but most of all he was sincerely impressed with the work I had accomplished thus far. I made some menu items in Sysco's test kitchen, Natalie and Amanda did 3D renderings of the interior, I had a 5-year projection, etc. It took me almost a year to do all of this, but I worked for that year in order to prepare for a moment like this. We ended up not making a deal, but I have gained a invaluable mentor as a result of that random encounter with Liz. First impressions are everything, and I am not sure Tom would be as responsive to me if it weren't for that day I showed him how much potential I have. The problem I see with a majority of the aspiring entrepreneurs that come my way is that they don't understand how opportunity works. They wait until the eggs hatch before building the coop. Opportunity is like a UPS man: when opportunity comes knocking at your door, it doesn't wait around for you to be ready to answer.

If you want to be lucky, you have to be ready to be lucky.

  In summary, I encourage you to put yourself in a position to have more opportunities come your way. When adversity comes your way, put your head down and work through it. Most importantly, set yourself up for success. Be ready. And if opportunity falls in your lap and you are not completely ready, say yes anyway and try to figure it out along the way.