
Categories
- The Blog (13)
Recent Posts
- How Old Are You?October 2, 2024
- Can you create your own luck?July 2, 2024
- Millennial women suffering from loneliness and lovelessnessAugust 16, 2023
- How Old Are You?
This photo is taken on the terrace of my Club, The Allbright, on a sunny day in May.
At first sight, you might say what a lucky girl I am – and of course you are right but there is another component to this pic. Look closer: there is a bag, a book as well as a partially concealed pen and a reMarkable.
I am in fact carrying out research for my second book and have CHOSEN to do so on this sunny terrace, rather than a library or the seclusion of my flat/home-office.
I am practising what I preach: combining business with pleasure… It is a code of behaviour I have adopted as far as far as I can remember: whilst I was reading for my BA (and PhD) at University College London, I would retreat to Regent’s Park on sunny days – absorbing the rays as well as the words of eminent philosophers and writers who were part of my studies.
Fast forward some 30+ years, I now ‘retreat’ to places like this lovely and inspiring Club in Mayfair which caters to business women.
I recognise that I am privileged in having access to this delightful venue, full of like-minded female executives, but it has not happened by ‘chance’. As they say, I am here because I “manifested it”.
To explain: I had been waiting for the concept of being part of an environment where women promoted women in business; having broken the glass ceiling in the late 80s, I had come through a world where female executives were few and far between and, when they did exist, they certainly did not offer support – far from it!
The moment I heard (through the Press) about the creation of this Club, I immediately reached out to the 2 founders who share the same values as I do. They have instilled them into the core of the club, and so I decided to join.
I feel there was no coincidence in finding what I was looking for and, so some would say there is no ‘luck’ in my being here – only prescience and perspicacity. To quote another trite expression, “you make your own luck”.
Cultivate Optimism and Positive Expectations
“Lucky people are optimistic and have positive expectations, leading to self-fulfilling prophecies. They can spot the good in situations and make the most of difficult circumstances. Cultivating a positive outlook can increase your chances of creating your own luck. Taking calculated chances is essential to unveil new prospects” – Jack Kelly, Forbes.
Whilst I am not vain enough to compare myself to a swan, there is some truth in the metaphor that under the seemingly effortless gliding (through life or water!), there is also a lot of hard work taking place below the surface.
My own story: I have worked very hard to be where I am today; I have overcome adversity in both the academic and business worlds. I have worked hard (and continue to work hard) to earn the £££s that enable me to now enjoy a lifestyle where I can act effectively as a coach/mentor.
Admittedly, I no longer work the crazy hours I used to; as I have got older, I realise that I must allow more time for myself and set the boundaries that enable me to have the right work/life balance and be more effective in my professional activities.
What do you think? Am I lucky? Or have I made my luck? What is your view on ‘luck’?