I find it particularly disheartening when I hear someone refer to a persons success and achievements as simply luck. Or even worse... dumb luck.

The word luck implies that the person had very little to do with the positive outcome they are currently enjoying. In fact, it even conjures up the idea that someone that is enjoying their success could have as easily achieved the result from doing something as simple as going to the local store and purchasing a lottery ticket and hoping for the best.

The reality is that "luck" in and of itself in virtually all the cases of those where one might define a person as being successful had little if anything to do with it. Very often, the exact opposite is true.

One can easily find countless examples where the ingredients of being action oriented, and persistent had much more to do with the attainment and rewards these people are enjoying.

Assuming that you agree with me that the word "luck" by itself has very little to do with what it truly takes to be successful in ones ventures -- why is it that all to often we don't associate the true ingredients when discussing the success of others?

Rather then use words such as lucky, why don't we instead celebrate the fact that the person in question worked hard, put forth the ample effort and is being rewarded for all that went into getting them to where they are now.

Perhaps we should look to several examples as to why this is true. First, very often we want the quickest results possible. Knowing this is the case, accepting that having the stick-to-it-ness necessary to achieve greatness isn't all that glamorous.

Perhaps it is easier for us to simply say, they were lucky then to say, "If they can do it, I can learn from this persons example and achieve similar results in my given area of endeavor".

In looking not to just the end result, or glamorous rewards often associated with the success stories of other people, but also in the hardships they had to endure we can gain a needed strength. It is from that very strength that I believe we can in turn move closer to our own definition of success.

The next time you hear someone calling a persons achievement lucky, I hope you will do both yourself and the other person a big favor and disagree with them wholeheartedly. Remind them that far more likely then simply "luck" was all the effort that we may not even be aware of that went into getting them to where they are now.

It's a simple shift in the way we choose to view things, but it is a shift that gives us the power and knowing that we are as capable as anyone when it comes to reaching our dreams and desires.

-- Here's wishing you great success, Josh Hinds