Luck of the Draw
Do you believe in luck, or do you believe that people make their own?
When I was in Chicago I happened to make friends with the guys at Real Social Dynamics. The timing happened to be such that they were about to rent Project Hollywood with Mystery and Style, and needed an extra roommate. I happened to have the money, if only barely, to afford to move. I did it, and became a famous pick up artist.
On my path to becoming a professional gambler, I started with bankroll of $1000, all my money in the world, and at one point was down to $77. If that had been lost, I probably would have been done with gambling. We hit a streak and ran that up to $10,000, which we split two ways. From there I took it further and made a lot of money gambling for seven years.
There are a few common comments I hear, usually secondhand, made about me. Most of them have to do with how lucky I am.
“I’m not lucky like you are.”
And let’s face it – I am lucky. If you were to go through the list of amazing experiences I’ve had, few or none of them can be chalked up to pure accomplishment. Luck has always played a role.
I thought about this when I was being interviewed for a newspaper in Kentucky. The reporter asked really good questions, one of which was whether or not I felt like I was more lucky than other people.
I might be, but I don’t think that’s the deciding factor in my success.
I’m convinced that it’s my inclination, or more appropriately, my overwhelming need to take any and all good opportunities that come my way. Everyone gets roughly the same amount of opportunities in their lives, but most people don’t take any of them. It’s like winning the lottery, throwing away the ticket, and then complaining that you’re poor.
I wasn’t the only one who could have moved into Project Hollywood. The room was offered to at least 100 people before me. Was I REALLY the most ABLE to move in? Not at all. I just bought a house, on which I still had to pay my mortgage, and spent the last $8k I had on my deposit, first, and last. I just didn’t listen to that little voice that tries to come up with a thousand little reasons not to do something new.
With gambling I could have easily thought it was too good to be true, and never gone farther. I can’t tell you how many people I taught, step by step, how to do it. None of them stuck with it.
I cashed in my lottery tickets. We only get a certain amount of huge ones, and when one passes it often passes forever.
So the next time you’re faced with a tough decision, or an option that seems too good to be true, ask yourself if you’re about to pass up on one of your opportunities to be lucky.
(13 votes, average: 3.69 out of 5)
Loading ...
October 20th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Damn man, this one really hit me. Time to start taking advantage of the opportunities that come my way. Thanks Tynan.
October 20th, 2008 at 8:26 am
the secret! haha
quit your job and gamble
October 20th, 2008 at 8:45 am
Tynan - I totally agree with your article. Reminds me of a passage from “Pour Your Heart Into It” by Howard Schultz (CEO of Starbucks) - “Life is a series of near misses. But a lot of what we ascribe to luck is not luck at all. It’s seizing the day and accepting responsibility for your future. It’s seeing what other people don’t see, and pursuing that vision, no matter who tells you not to. In daily life, you get so much pressure from friends and family and colleagues, urging you to take the easy way, to follow the prevailing wisdom, that it can be difficult not to simply accept the status quo and do what’s expected of you. But when you really believe - in yourself, in your dream - you just have to do everything you possibly can to take control and make your vision a reality”
October 20th, 2008 at 10:26 am
This is something I’ve believed in for years. It’s what got me into one of the best law schools in the world, has allowed me to travel in my youth more than most people ever do in their entire lives, got me on Sirius Satellite Radio, made me a successful entrepreneur, etc. Most people just rationalize their way out of opportunities and stay safely in their comfort zone and CHOOSE not to fight their way out of the paper bag that is the status quo.
-Jordan
http://www.pickuppodcast.com
http://www.theartofcharm.com
October 20th, 2008 at 10:34 am
This is something I’ve believed in for years.
It’s what got me into one of the best law schools in the world, has allowed me to travel in my youth more than most people ever do in their entire lives, got me on Sirius Satellite Radio, made me a successful entrepreneur, etc.
Most people just rationalize their way out of opportunities and stay safely in their comfort zone and CHOOSE not to fight their way out of the paper bag that is the status quo.
-Jordan
http://www.pickuppodcast.com
http://www.theartofcharm.com
October 20th, 2008 at 11:02 pm
Tynan I like this. Most of my life I have been one of those people who shies away from opportunity because it would mean taking a risk. Lately I have been working on a lot of self improvement and realized that not taking a risk on a good opportunity is foolish compared to the risks we take everyday like walking down the side walk next to a busy street or going for a swim at the lake. Either of these activites could be fatal, people drown or get hit by cars on a daily basis but most normal people wouldn’t think twice about doing them. I myself was almost hit by a BMW that flipped over the median at 60KMpH few months ago but I still walk down sidewalks everyday and never worry about the risk. So why not take a risk on an good opportunity when it presents itself, put into perspective the benefits of success would likely outway the consequences of failure almost every time. Once again good stuff!
October 21st, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Hey i agree fully with you, Luck does play a big role. But I also believe in a sense that we make our own luck. The power of the subconscious is 10 million times powerful than that of the conscious mind, when we try something or learn something new our subconscious is constantly finding ways to improve upon that, for example have you tried something new such as a break dancing move and couldn’t do it so you gave up, then in a day or a week you remembered about it and was able to do it perfectly? Or you couldn’t remember a name and the harder you thought about it the further away it went, then you gave up on it and 5 minutes later in popped into your head. That’s the subconscious communicating with your conscious. Hey Tynan, I was wondering what typical age groups you normally pick up? Also about the “Hott” girls that you’re saying are easier to pick up. Don’t most of them have boyfriends? I know for a pro like you, that’s no biggie. But i can see that as a hindrance for me.
October 22nd, 2008 at 12:18 pm
A brilliant quote that I’ve pulled from Richard Branson’s book ‘Losing My Virginity’ - “Live in the moment and the future will look after itself”
Now I’m off to salsa club by myself …. :s