Happy New Year 2012 - It's Going to be a Lucky One

Originally published Jan. 1, 2012

Finally, it snowed in Minnesota!  We have had the brownest winter I can remember in ages.  It almost feels like Old Man Winter is ignoring us for too much complaining about last year's snow.  But last night I found myself enjoying the immense quiet outside that happens when it snows like that.  Even on New Year's Eve, barely a car could be heard on the road except for the occasional loud mufflered auto puttering somewhere in the distance.   I suppose if you lived in the outer ring suburbs or rural areas, you might not notice how quiet it can get, but it is very noticeable in the city (or in my case, mid-range suburb).

The oversized snowflakes coupled with the sheer peace and quiet added up to one thing for me - it felt magical and a beautiful way to ring in the New Year.

Speaking of New Year, I found myself last week trying to face up to about ten years of post it notes that have accumulated on my desk.  Yes, ten years' worth.  Passwords, account names, remember this, remember that, drawings from my kids, ideas.    Every time I looked at that stack I would think...some other time and push it into a hidden recess on my desk.  Then last week, I picked it up, all 2 inches of it, and took it to the library.  Decisions would be made, one by one until the pile was eliminated, greatly reduced or at a bare minimum combined onto one sheet of paper.

I found inside those notes some worthwhile advice that I want to pass on to you as we start this New Year.  I didn't write down the source of this information.  These notes are so old I really can't even recall where I read it - the internet, newspaper, a book?  I have no clue.  So wherever credit is due, thank you for the excellent suggestions.

The post-its are titled "Make Your Own Luck".

*Be skilled at creating and noticing chance opportunities

*Make lucky decisions by listening to your own intuition

*Create self-fulfilling prophecies via positive expectations

*Adopt a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good luck

*Making your own luck will make others lucky too


 
*Have a growth Mind Set

-Need trial and error

-Failing is the best way to succeed next time


*Never stop learning.  The entrepreneurial mind set does not see risk as danger.  See it as heightened probability that there is a big range of possible outcomes.

-Losing is essential to winning

-Persistance and pursuit of knowledge leads to success


*Calculate your risk.  If you are going to take big risks, you must believe to the core that you are going to succeed.  Need that faith.


Here are some characteristics of the Classic Growth Mind Set:

*Recognize Opportunity

*Weigh possibility of failure against chance of success

*Act accordingly

*Reap profits


I love running into positive notes like this.  What do you say?  Are you ready for 2012 to be your luckiest year yet?  I sure am!