Luck is What Happens When Opportunity Meets Preparation

Why Dave Has This Quote on the Back of His Business Card

Chuck Hodges, former baseball player and now pastor of Peachtree City United Methodist Church, shared one of his life's lessons during a sermon several months ago: "The will to prepare to win is more important than the will to win; because when the athletes step onto the field, everyone has the will to win."

As I write this, in my mind's eye I saw Lynn Swann making that amazing catch in the 1980 Super Bowl, David Justice hitting a solo home run and scoring the game's only run as the Braves won the 1995 World Series, and Michael Jordan winning the 1998 NBA championship with his last shot in the last seconds of the last game of his career (we thought it was his last game). Every athlete in each of those games had approximately the same desire to win as every other athlete on the field or court.

They didn't make great plays simply because they wanted to make great plays. What set Swann, Justice and Jordan apart was not just their level of performance in the most critical moment of a championship game; what set them apart took place months or even years earlier. The best athletes in the world are the ones who combine their God-given talents with relentless practice and a laser-like focus. For example, Tiger Woods is often the first one on the driving range or the putting green, even though he usually has the one of the latest tee times of the day.

I cannot stress to you enough how important it is to be prepared before you go into an interview. Four things that come to mind:

§          Plan what you are going to say in response to five very predictable interview questions

§          Practice giving those answers in a clear, concise and powerful way

§          Know the organization's business; their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats

§          Be prepared with several questions that you've developed specifically for them

I have one of my favorite quotes on the back of my business card: "Luck is what happens when opportunity meets preparation." The quote is attributed to the Roman philosopher and historian Seneca, who was a contemporary of the apostle Paul. Maybe they met one another and talked about sports during Paul's house arrest in Rome around AD 60.

Winning a job is not just a matter of desire, because all the candidates who enter the interview room have approximately the same will to win. Are you thoroughly prepared to win the job?

Some people tell me they don't believe in luck; well I do. I believe we make our own luck by the choices we make. You have a choice today; you can take your chances, or you can make your own luck. Be proactive. Make your own luck.