Luck by chance…
I recently came across two articles by two different writers on Medium and could resonate with both of them to some extent. I can relate many such write ups to some or other part of my life, and that brings with it the realization that, we all have these collective experiences as a common denominator.
One of the writers (I enjoy reading her stuff) spoke about the role of luck in our lives. As per her evaluation, when someone says to you, “All the best or Best of luck” it is most often intended as a back handed compliment where you imply that luck has a role in their success and not their efforts. It is a phrase I am guilty of having used at times with no such intention in mind but more like a social convention. Or may be we should just say, “Do your best”.
I have always been a purist where I have believed that you should earn your place in the world and almost made my life miserable with that ideology. I also know that ‘luck’ or to paraphrase it ‘Having the chips aligned in your favor’ or ‘Being at the right place at the right time’ has some role to play, not in what you are capable of, but to how your capability and efforts are perceived and rewarded.
Luck is not a determination of your quality, your capability, your ingenuity, your efforts and definitely should not be a yardstick for measuring success. It just determines the outcome of your above qualities especially with regards to how it gets validated by the world outside. People with good taste will still recognize and appreciate your talent but it won’t be a ‘Public Display Of Affection’ just yet.
At times, beautiful creations go unnoticed. Take certain songs for example. My playlist is full of them. They are masterpieces to say the least but some foot tapping number becomes a rage instead. Sometimes I feel it’s good in a way as you need to discover certain gems. You won’t find them lying around for anyone and everyone to consume. It is like playing a video game where you level up and only then the doors to an extraordinary creation will open up for you. It will happen when you are deserving enough to appreciate it.
The issue now is that the artist involved could find the whole journey depressing. How many of us have done something well, but have not received the desired outcome? It happens in every profession. It could even be a short skit or a documentary that will leave you mind blown and make you wonder as to why more people do not know of it. So is the case with singers, actors, writers, comedians or any professional in any field. The opposite is true too. Some people make you wonder to the contrary.
‘It takes a genius to create extraordinary stuff. It takes doing what is required to create extraordinary publicity.’ Both require hard work no doubt. However, you make something classy with the first one and massy with the latter. Again, that is just how the world works. Not going to debate on the morality of it. No one is a saint here. Just spitting hard facts.
Another writer on Medium posted about how his efforts were not getting validated enough at the workplace. Firstly, that is proof that putting in efforts and getting acknowledged mean a lot to employees. A reason why I always have a personal mission or goal when I enter a place. People have their reasons for hiring you and I agree, that requirement should be met to the best of your capacity, but don’t let that define you.
I always have my own reasons for getting hired other than just a monthly pay. At the end of my term, I do run a personal evaluation. I evaluate how I have progressed over that year, my conceptual understanding, revising existing ones, improvement in skills and confidence levels. Basically, I evaluate my gains from the place. Yes, very selfishly so. If I can check those boxes I consider my stint to have served it’s purpose and if not, and I have put in enough efforts or it is requiring too much effort than is worth it, like affecting your physical or mental well being, then I consider the environment to not be the right fit for me.
However, I can say for sure, I have always gained something from every place I have been in. That is because, external validation many a times will fall under the ambit of ‘luck’ and some others will deliberately be stingy about it, for reasons that could be plenty( from envy to non conformism- read : bootlicking to bad taste). Multiple factors need to align for you to get lucky but your efforts and your personal levelling up are your own and no one can take that away from you.
I seldom regret anything in life. I am not saying, I am always happy about how things play out but I always learn and grow from people I meet or places I have been in. They have always made me a better/wiser person. I guess that’s true for most people. It’s what you take out of a situation than the situation itself.
Hence do not seek everybody’s validation. Your opinion about yourself is all that matters. Be honest about it and build on it.
With all sincerity, “Give your best and may luck follow”.
