I met Richard Branson a number of years ago at an event the two of us were speaking at. He is one of the most sought after entrepreneurs on the speaking circuit. He’s brash, yet, somehow, comes off humble. He also has Hollywood good looks and a personality that endears him to millions around the world. And he’s got stories.
In one of those stories, he shares the lucky break he got on the first music album produced by Virgin Records. After Virgin completed the album, they spent months trying to get the influencers in the music industry to listen to give it a listen. William Friedkin, an executive at Atlantic Records, was one of those influencers. Branson had reached out to Friedkin relentlessly in an attempt to get him to listen to the album. The lucky break came when Friedkin happened to give the album a listen while a film director for the movie the Exorcist was in Friedkin’s office. The film director had been on the hunt for a new soundtrack for his movie. He liked what he heard in Friedkin’s office and the rest, as they say is history.
According to Branson, those who play it safe, who fear rejection and failure, don’t get lucky. You have to be relentless and courageous in order for luck to visit you.
In my study on the daily habits of the rich, I saw this success principle repeat itself over and over again in the lives of many ordinary people who were able to transform themselves into self-made millionaires.
They were damn lucky.
Or, more accurately, they simply never stopped trying to succeed and their persistence eventually created good luck.
Those who relentlessly pursue success, eventually get lucky. Good luck visits the persistent. This is why it is imperative to never give up on your dream.
Tom Corley is an accountant, financial planner and author of “Rich Kids: How to Raise Our Children to Be Happy and Successful in Life”, “Effort-Less Wealth”, “Change Your Habits Change Your Life”, “Rich Habits Poor Habits” and “Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals.”
